Brock (bv310)

This series first appeared on tsn.ca a year ago. It’s running again this week because its message is as timeless as it is important. If you haven’t read it, I hope you will. If you have read it, I would ask you to share it with others. And then try to conceive of what it would be like if your little children or grandchildren were forcibly taken from you by the federal government. And then physically, emotionally and sexually abused by multiple religious organizations intent on committing cultural genocide. All of which led to pervasive and systemic, multi-generational trauma, dysfunction and despair for the First People of what is now our country. I am humbled that Eugene Arcand, No. 781, allowed me to assist him in some small way to tell his story to more people, even if Eugene re-telling the horrors of his Canadian Residential School experience can mean re-living the trauma that he and so many others suffered. But, as Eugene says, he does it for public education and understanding. Eugene Arcand is a remarkable individual, unlike anyone I’ve ever known. He calls himself “damaged goods” but he is also the most resilient and hopeful person I’ve ever met. It is my great honour to call him a friend. He’s as warm and funny as he is blunt and edgy, a gifted orator with an important story to tell, one that you should read to fully understand and come to terms with our country’s greatest shame. As for his hockey stories, well, let’s just say that they are as raucous as he was because if you were playing against him, you wouldn’t want to go into the corner with Big Bird. haihai….