Wheatland Regional Library Legacy of Residential Schools Tour Dates

September 14, 2022

2 minutes read

Wheatland Regional Library is honoured and excited to continue their partnership with Tony
Stevenson to share his knowledge on the impact and legacy of residential schools in Canada.
Stevenson’s knowledge sharing tour launched in Wheatland during the fall of 2022. Partnering
with Tony on the Legacy of Residential Schools tour has been an important step for the
organization and the region.

“We hope that our work with Tony will help more individuals and communities recognize the role
they have on the path towards truth and reconciliation” says Kim Hebig, Director, Wheatland
Regional Library.

Tony is an Anishinaabe First Nation from Treaty 4 land. He attended the Qu’Appelle Indian
Residential School at Lebret, Saskatchewan from Grade 5 to 12. Tony worked extensively with
former students of residential schools during the IAP compensation process and has worked
tirelessly to educate communities on the history and truth of the residential school system in
Canada. Tony’s professional and personal experiences have given him the ability to be an
advocate for residential school survivors. His goal is to expand the Legacy of Residential
Schools Tour from Saskatchewan to reach across the whole country.

“The common question now is, what can I do to help?” says Tony Stevenson. “I am honoured to
have been chosen by many of my First Nations Elders and my extended Residential School
Family to speak on their behalf. Many of them are no longer with us because they left way too
early on their Journey to the Spirit World. Through no fault of their own, just being born a First
Nation, was a tragedy in this time of the building of this country. The message they ask me to
share is of their truth, and mine, of a painful past that we have to endure, every day. The priests,
nuns, and administrators of these schools are no longer here but their footprint is. That
intergenerational trauma is alive and well and is thriving in our own communities” explains
Stevenson.

Wheatland Regional Library will be hosting a number of presentations as part of this tour in
September. Everyone is invited to attend an event in their area. The public should be aware that
Tony’s presentation includes a screening of the film We Were Children, which deals with mature
subject matter and viewer discretion is advised. More information about the tour can be found
on the Wheatland Regional Library website at www.wheatland.sk.ca

“With these presentations I hope to appeal to the genuine humanity of the hearts of the
Canadians that want to learn and more importantly, understand, so that we can change the
future by way of actions and not just words. I believe if you want to be called a Canadian,
learning and owning the real history of the past is a mandatory requirement so it is never
repeated!” adds Stevenson.

The Legacy of Residential School Tour presentations will begin at 7pm, with doors open at
6:30pm. The schedule is:

Monday, September 19 – Elrose
Elrose Library – 401 Main Street

Tuesday, September 20 – Dodsland
Dodsland Lions Hall – Main Street

Wednesday, September 21 – Unity
Unity Composite School – 3 rd Ave E

Thursday, September 22 – Dalmeny
Dalmeny Library – 301 Railway Ave

Friday, September 23 –Hepburn
Heritage Common – 703 2nd St E, Banquet Hall room #A103