Aaniin, boozhoo, everyone!

My name is Lenard Monkman and I am Anishinaabe from Lake Manitoba First Nation. 

And that up there is how we say hello. 

So, hello new friends! (And here’s how to say hello in 15 Indigenous languages!)

Also, welcome to September. And welcome to the inaugural issue of Raising CBC Kids, a new CBC Kids newsletter written by parents for parents.  

At my house, we’ve been getting the kids back into their school routines, while our little one is about to start daycare. 

And even though September is a busy month, I still kind of love it. Because it feels like a chance to restart and grow. 

September is also an opportunity to reflect on a challenging part of Canadian history — the legacy and impact of residential schools on Indigenous communities. 

This month, we observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day.

I’ve worked as a reporter for CBC Indigenous for many years, and in that time I have interviewed several residential school survivors. This was an important job for me, because I wanted to make sure that the experiences of residential school survivors were being accurately reflected. Even for adults, there is a lot of learning to be done when it comes to this part of Canadian history. So I approached this difficult work with honour and respect, and in the end I learned a lot.  

My new challenge is to take what I’ve learned and help create content that is age-appropriate and easy to understand for CBC Kids — from CBCKids.ca, to CBC Kids News, to what we do on TV and CBC Gem with Gary the Unicorn.

That looks like a roundtable conversation with Indigenous teens in Winnipeg, discussing stereotypes they face for CBC Kids News. And sharing a community dance with little ones in our morning block on TV. I also highly recommend watching Maika Harper share a story with Gary the Unicorn about the Northern Lights —  just for the intricate shadow puppetry alone.

It’s so important to have resources for kids of all ages, because subjects like residential schools can feel a bit heavy. But they are still so important for Canadians. 

So, instead of creating barriers to understanding larger concepts or challenging realities, I want to welcome opportunities for learning that support parents and teachers like you. And, of course, your kids, who are at the centre of what we do here at CBC Kids.

Sometimes the words we use can be the first hurdle, so why not help your little ones learn them? A good start would be to explore words like “Indigenous” and “Reconciliation.” 

Then there’s the observances you’re probably familiar with because of your kids’ schools, like Orange Shirt Day or the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which takes place on September 30. 

Younger kids can learn about the history of residential schools (known in the show as “boarding schools”) in Molly of Denali, and they can watch a CBC Kids Book Club with Phyllis Webstad where she chats with Cottonball about her book With Our Orange Hearts.

Older ones can hear what First Nations, Inuit and Métis people think about Orange Shirt Day at CBC Kids News, and head to CBCKids.ca for Indigenous games, sports and stories.

My goal is to give kids of all ages access to uplifting and positive Indigenous stories and storytelling. Because I feel a responsibility to share a complete picture of the Indigenous experience. 

I want our kids to see that Indigenous people aren’t just a culmination of historical traumas.

There is so much to celebrate, and I want kids to see the beauty and strength of the many varied communities across Turtle Island. One of the ways we’re doing this on CBCKids.ca is through gaming, like with the Indigenous-produced Turtle Island Skate Jam.

I approach this responsibility by remembering the expression, “You don’t know what you don’t know.”

CBC Kids wants to help you and your kids know.

Thank you for trusting us.  

Miigwetch,
Lenard