“These Walls” is a short story written by Nicole Munro that I illustrated.
“These Walls” was written using a fictional character, a girl named Margaret in a residential school and finishes with her as an adult approximately three years before the final residential school closed in 1983, going through a difficult time.
The conditions in these schools were often appalling. Children were subjected to physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, and many died from disease, malnutrition, or neglect. The impact of residential schools on Indigenous communities has been profound and long-lasting. The trauma of being taken away from their families, communities, and cultures has had intergenerational effects, causing a loss of language, culture, and traditional knowledge. Many survivors have struggled with addiction, mental health issues, and other social problems as a result of their experiences in residential schools.
Many Indigenous communities continue to seek justice and healing for the legacy of residential schools.
