Residential school survivors gather in Red Deer

A dark chapter in Canadian history is being remembered in Red Deer today as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission public hearings looking at the impact of residential schools got underway.

The national commission was established in 2008to record stories, educate and help with healing.

An eagle feather and box of tissues were passed around a sharing circle in the Red Deer College gym during the start of the two-day event.

Residential school survivors talked about the loneliness and physical labour. They remembered being forbidden to speak their language and going without shoes.

"We've gone through so much and now we need to move on. It takes each and every one of us to start that process,"said Adeline Sampson-Harvey, whotravelled from Hobbema to take part.

Ceremonies were also being held to remember the children who went to the Red Deer Industrial Institute, whichwas operated by the Missionary Society of the Methodist Churchforroughly 30 years starting in 1893.

"It had a very high rate of illness and death," said Cecile Faucak with the United Church of Canada."The parents many times refused to send their children to the school."

The United Church of Canada, which managed schools in Ontario and Western Canada,has been part of efforts to research the history of the school and a cemetery where an unknown number of school children were buried.

"The survivors carry so much pain, but I have always been met with grace," said Faucak.