Residential school survivors invited to Sault book launch

An Anishinaabe author who authored a book detailing the experiences of more than a dozen residential school survivors in Ontario will finally host an official book launch after two years of waiting in the wings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Dr. Theresa Turmel will be in Sault Ste. Marie later this month in order to celebrate the release of Mnidoo Bemaasing Bemaadiziwin: Reclaiming, Reconnecting, and Demystifying Resiliency as Life Force Energy for Residential School Survivors — and she’s inviting survivors to share a semi-private, community supper with her as a show of respect for those who endured the residential school system as well as the survivors from Walpole Island First Nation who lent their voices to the book.

Although the pandemic cancelled two scheduled book launches within the past couple of years, the member of Michipicoten First Nation says her idea to host a dinner for survivors always had the unwavering support of her publisher, ARP Books, and its editor, Irene Bindi. 

“She never forgot — she was struck with my idea about having a community supper and inviting the residential school survivors and their families to come and have a hot meal, and at the same time I could have my book launch,” said Turmel, speaking with SooToday from her home in Sturgeon Falls, Ont. “If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have a book.”

The author and researcher will readily admit her published work, informed by 25 years of research, can be a jarring and difficult read for many based on the feedback she’s received thus far.  

If someone reads her book without knowing anything about residential schools and the abuses which took place in them, Turmel says, the reader could be “really shocked” by what happened to young children who attended the institutions, which were designed to strip Indigenous Peoples of their language and culture.  

“It’s not because of the grammar or big words; it’s the feelings, the horrible things that they read in the book. That’s what they find difficult,” said Turmel. “A number of people have said, ‘I can’t believe that happened in this country,’ because I suppose Canada is considered to be a kind, understanding, compassionate country.

“But if you look at the dark legacy, the history of the country — that is not the case at all.”

Turmel views her book as a counter to residential school denialists who proclaim the abuses suffered in the institutions were exaggerated or fabricated altogether.  

“You have deniers that don’t know anything saying it’s just made-up stories — even now, when they’re looking for the unmarked graves, trying to find out what child is buried in what grave, I’ve seen people in [western Canada] write ridiculous stories in the newspaper saying, ‘where’s the evidence, where’s the evidence of these children’s bodies?’ How ridiculous is that, really?”

Turmel has a number of ties to the Sault; she has attended both Algoma University and Lake Superior State University, and worked closely with the Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association from 1991 to 2005. 

As a result of her work with Shingwauk survivors, Turmel would eventually tap the late Susie Jones, a member of Walpole Island First Nation and well-known survivor of Shingwauk Indian Residential School, to act as a liaison in Walpole Island in order to approach residential school survivors and ask them to share their experiences for what would eventually become Mnidoo Bemaasing Bemaadiziwin.   

“That was my overall goal,” said Turmel of her book. “They wanted their voices heard, and I thought it was extremely important to do that as well.” 

The official launch of Mnidoo Bemaasing Bemaadiziwin takes place at the Delta hotel in Sault Ste. Marie Friday, April 28 from 5-8 p.m. 

Copies of the book will be available for sale during the event. 

Attendance will be capped at 35 guests. People interested in attending can RSVP using the online form provided.