Orange Shirt Day at Berkshire Park - Friday, September 29th
At the end of September we will be recognizing Orange Shirt Day. It is about creating awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of Indian Residential Schools. For more information: orangeshirtday.org
On Friday, September 29th, we are encouraging all students, staff and Berkshire Park families to wear an orange shirt. This year, we are sharing the story of one of our own Berkshire Park families, the Seredas. Five generations ago, Sydney's grandmother's grandmother and her three siblings were able to avoid Residential School by passing as French. They hid their heritage and culture. While they did not suffer the abuse occurring in Residential School, they did lose their history. It is only recently that the Seredas have started to reconnect with their past. Please read about their story: Our Family.pdf. Their story is also posted below.
We are proud to offer a t-shirt designed by Sydney's grandmother, Verna Oke-Lafontaine. If you are interested in purchasing an orange t-shirt or hoodie, please go to our online store: https://berkshireparkorangeshirtday2023.itemorder.com/. There are t-shirts and hoodies available in both child and adult sizes.
$1.50 from every shirt purchased will be donated to the Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre. It has many services and supports for Indigenous youth.
National Day of Reconciliation is Saturday, September 30th.
Monday, October 2nd will be a statutory holiday and there will no school.
Our Family Story
From Sydney’s perspective
We are connected to the Métis people. I also just learned we are connected to the Algonquin and Ojibwa
people.
Because it makes me sad to think about it, we don’t talk about our connections much at home. Mama is
slowly putting the pieces together, talking to me about the people we are connected to and what kind of
culture they had. The more I learn about them, the sadder I feel because they had to hide who they
were. Maybe one day I will be ready to hear everything about them and the culture we’ve missed out
on.
This is the story about my heritage from my Nanny’s point of view…
A Tribute to My Family
September 30, 2022
This is a piece to a puzzle which I call ‘My Family’. Recently, my oldest daughter began questioning our
family background. So, through her dedicated research on the internet and talking to family members,
she came upon a few small but very heartwarming and intricate pieces, which I now know to be a large
part of our family history.
My grandmother and her 3 siblings were able to dodge the wrath which was unfolding around them. It
was through the actions of her parents and grandparents that they avoided the repercussions of the
Residential Schools.
“They were French” if anyone questioned them. French was learned and spoken at home. Despite their
true Indigenous background. No one was to speak of the truth... under any circumstances, or face being
taken from their home. They blended in as farmers in Tilbury, Eastern Township of Kent County in
Ontario.
Their true identity was kept locked away in their minds. This was due to the preaching at all church
pulpits... “We will take the Indian out of the Indians, even if we have to beat it out of them.” I am told
that the Nuns became responsible to carry this task out, as it was determined that they needed to have
something to do to hold their place in the church.
The true secret is that my Great Great Grandfather is Illinois Algonquin and Saultaux Ojibwa descent with
a mix of French Canadian, better known as Métis of Turtle Island.
However, my mother (RIP) did a little research of her own in her younger years, and was able to leave
little hints for us without saying a word. Throughout our home, and in her house to this day you can find
turtles in almost every room.
Mom was part of the Turtle Island Clan of North America, and this is a little piece of “Our Family Puzzle”.
As well as my small Tribute to my roots...
Sydney Sereda & Verna Oke‐Lafontaine
