“From Indian Residential School to Truth and Reconciliation,” a two-day conference held in May 2012 at Trent University brought together residential school survivors, church representatives, and members of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

Silent Thunder, a new documentary shot at the conference aired on several Ontario television stations on July 2, 2012.  Produced by CHEX TV, Silent Thunder offers a stark look at the effects of residential schools on First Nations communities and individuals. The one-hour program features the stories of several local survivors as well as interviews with church representatives, academics, and members of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee.

Shirley Williams, Professor Emeritus in Indigenous Studies at Trent, is one of the survivors featured in the film.

“I hope that this documentary helps make people aware,” she says.  “I hope it creates awareness about what happened to these people. I hope it creates more awareness of our struggles.”

For Prof. Williams, the conference and the documentary represent important educational opportunities. 

“We are trying to get a message across,” she states. “We are trying to send a message to those people who ask why we are still upset, why we are upset again, why we are still protesting. This is news to people – how so many people were treated.”

CHEX TV’s Dave McGowan describes his work on the documentary. “For much of the first forty minutes, I just let the camera roll. The stories of the survivors pour out, with no need for narration, script, or voiceovers. These people – these stories – speak for themselves.”

According to Mr. McGowan, the documentary attempts to shine a light on the injustices that First Nations people face.

“We need to recognize the full extent of our history as a nation,” he explains.  “We view ourselves as a peace-loving, tolerant, open country – and in many ways we are – but there is more to our history than that. As a society, we haven’t focused on the plight of our First Nations. We haven’t taken responsibility.”

“I don’t think that most people realize that the last residential school only closed in 1996,” he says, “or that they realize the full scope of the issue – how many victims there actually are today. It’s an eye-opener ...”

Silent Thunder aired  on Monday, July 2 at 6 p.m. on CHEX Television, Channel 12 in Peterborough and Durham, and CKWS Kingston.