Jade Roberts interviews residential school survivor Frank Clinton. (Submitted photo/Jade Roberts)

By Derek Cornet

Recording History

Roberts interviewing residential school survivors for podcast series

Jan 8, 2020 | 12:00 PM

Lac La Ronge Indian Band member Jade Roberts, 25, is on a mission to educate more Canadians about residential schools and what happened in those institutions.

She launched a podcast back in April and so far she has six episodes available on Apple Podcast, Spotify and Podbean. The podcasts are called Still Here, Still Healing and Roberts said the episodes have been downloaded about 2,000 times.

“My intention was just the education about residential schools,” she said. “I come from a teaching background, so I wanted there to be more resources available for people who are interested in educating themselves about residential schools.”

Another reason for the creation of the podcast was Roberts was curious about what her late father Jimmy Roberts went through during his time at residential school. He passed away when Roberts was still a child and she never had the chance to ask him about what happened.

So far, Roberts interviewed four elders from Saskatchewan including La Ronge’s Frank Clinton. She noted she is willing to sit down with any survivor who would like to share their story with her.

sjhl

Ice Wolves home opener set for Sept. 20

A few minutes ago

Ticket purchased online

Prince Albert man wins $100K with Lotto Spot app

58m ago

Liquor store approval

Humboldt Council approves liquor store despite letters in opposition

1h ago

“I don’t get back to La Ronge very often, but it would be nice to come and set up interviews with people from there,” Roberts said.

Of the episodes she’s produced, she mentioned there’s a special one about the history of Orange Shirt Day because of the popularity of it in schools. Roberts also expects to do another special episode talking with intergenerational survivors. She believes there’s a cycle families of those who went to residential schools are faced with, and she wants to know how people access mental health programs in Saskatoon.

Jade Roberts with residential school survivor Mary Wesley. (Submitted photo/Jade Roberts)

“I think just the importance of hearing stories from actual survivors,” Roberts said. “I think that’s the most important part of it because people often forget residential schools didn’t happen that long ago. There are still survivors who are living today and they have children.”

Roberts, who graduated from the University of Saskatchewan’s Indian Teacher Education Program, is currently a part-time teacher in Saskatoon.

–

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno