Swan Lake First Nation's Emma Cameron is a Residential School Survivor. She spent many years away from home, before not returning to residential school and staying to help her dad on the farm. She spent time in the hospital and sanitoriums in Winnipeg and Brandon. She was able to attend school during this time and recalls she was baptized by the nuns and her father did not like that. Also during her time in the hospital, she learned her baby sister had died. She was very homesick but her family did not have enough money to come to visit her with the exception of an aunt who worked in the hospital and visited her on Sundays.

When she was well, she went to Residential School where she recalled her hair being cut off, being very hungry and forced to go to church, and where she would be slapped for speaking her language. There were several times she received "the strap" for speaking her language and for taking food when hungry.

After she left Residential School, many denied the stories she told and when she heard about 215 children whose graves were uncovered in Kamloops earlier this year she cried remembering a story her cousin told her about when he would take walks at the Brandon Residential School, there were areas of the school grounds they were told not to walk because there were graves in those areas. Cameron said a friend from a neighbouring community called her crying when the uncovering took place and said she was praying for her.

When speaking about the National Day of Reconciliation, she said people can learn the stories of what happened at Residential Schools and the history of the Indigenous People. When speaking about reconciliation, she remarked, "We are all made by the same creator, we are all the same, and that we need to love one another."

For more of Emma Cameron's story watch the video below.