Hello everyone!

I'm Nana and I'm part of a First Nations community. While reading this book, we will learn together about the secret life of Canada...

Have you ever heard about the Royal Proclamation or the Enfranchisment Act? What about the Indian Act and Residential Schools? If the answer is no, I'd be happy to guide you.  

Follow me!

Long ago, before Canada was called Canada, our people lived on this land, taking care of the rivers, forests, and animals. Then people came from afar. And they made what they called the Royal Proclamation in 1763. It said this land belonged to us, and no one could take it without asking. But even though it sounded fair, too many did not listen, and more people came wanting our land. They didn't always ask and they didn't want to share.

The government came up with new rules: the Enfranchisement Act. The rule said if we wanted to be treated just like the settlers, then we had to forfeit our community status. They wanted us to change who we were, but we loved our languages, our dances, and our families. And we wanted to be who we were even if it meant not being treated quite fairly.

Then the government made the Indian Act. It decided how our lives were to be regulated, from where we may live to what we can do, and right down to who was or wasn't part of our family. It wanted to make us forget who we were. But we held fast to our stories, our songs, and our ways because they made us resilient. They made us strong. They made us who we are.

Then they made schools for many children to be taken away from their families. These were called Residential Schools. The schools told us that we couldn't speak our language or be ourselves. Some children were treated poorly there, and many of us felt lost and alone. Our hearts, though, remained brave even as that was hard to do. Our people remembered who we are and where we come from.

Now, many people are learning what happened, and they are listening to our stories. We're proud of who we are and where we come from. Our land, our language, and our people are still here. We are strong, and our stories will never disappear.

Thank you all for listening to our story. 

It's time for me to go now.

                                                     - Nana