Being a residential school survivor has obviously heavily impacted Raymond Tony CharlieB次元官网网址檚 life, but heB次元官网网址檚 still enduring hardships today.
Unbeknownst to many, Charlie, 71, is still not back in his home after being flooded out on Tsussie Road near the junction of Chemainus and Crofton Roads during the torrential rains of Nov. 15 last year.
And, yet, the author of the book In The Shadow of the Red Brick Building still manages to smile frequently and has the endearing qualities that make him a much-loved person with those who know him well and leave an immediate impression on those he meets for the first time. Many consider it remarkable heB次元官网网址檚 able to do that in the face of so much adversity.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e always been gentle,B次元官网网址� said Charlie during a sit-down interview on a sunny day at the site of the former QuwB次元官网网址檜tsunB次元官网网址� Cultural and Conference Centre in Duncan along the banks of the Cowichan River. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always been my style my whole life.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 just such a dear, dear friend of mine and I respect and admire him very much,B次元官网网址� said Vancouver Island UniversityB次元官网网址檚 (VIUB次元官网网址檚) professor Nadine Cruickshanks, who assisted Charlie with the editing and processes of getting his book published. B次元官网网址淚 just wanted to support him in any way I could.B次元官网网址�
Cruickshanks can envision a younger Charlie, with his same good-natured qualities and innocence before being subjected to abuse in the residential school system.
B次元官网网址淲hen I sit with Raymond Charlie, I see the smile and twinkle in the eye of that little boy who was full of love and humble curiosity,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲ith all that he has gone through B次元官网网址� and all of the circumstances that he has faced that have attempted to rip his spirit apart B次元官网网址� I always see the smile in that little boy, along with the stolen childhood. Raymond preserved B次元官网网址� against all odds B次元官网网址� a resilient determination to love and to be loved. ItB次元官网网址檚 all really impactful.B次元官网网址�
As the second annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is marked Friday, Sept. 30, Charlie stands out as a kind of poster boy for the honouring of survivors, their families and communities and the memorializing of the children lost to the residential school system.
CharlieB次元官网网址檚 mother was Penelakut, but he also has roots with Cowichan Tribes and family connections with the Malahat First Nation and Brentwood Bay. He began the 1964 school year as one of the so-called villagers at the Kuper Island Residential School on the land now known as Penelakut Island, became a boarder there in 1967 and was transferred to the St. MaryB次元官网网址檚 Residential School in Mission City at the end of the 1968 school year.
The sequence of abuse is documented in his book.
B次元官网网址淓ach chapter is an experience I had to deal with as a residential school survivor,B次元官网网址� Charlie said. B次元官网网址淚 found physical abuse and abuse from getting dental work without freezing and stuff.B次元官网网址�
The process of writing a book actually goes back to 2013 when he was receiving counselling services for survivors. From sessions with Frank Groenewold, he suggested Charlie write down what he wanted to talk about.
B次元官网网址淓very week, I would write it down and bring it over to him,B次元官网网址� said Charlie. B次元官网网址淎fter a year and a half, he said we healed a young boy who was sexually abused and he said youB次元官网网址檝e come a long way.B次元官网网址�
Groenewold ran the idea of writing a book past Charlie at that point.
B次元官网网址淚 said, B次元官网网址榤e? IB次元官网网址檓 such a poor writer,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� recalled Charlie.
B次元官网网址淚 started writing, over seven years of writing. One of my dear friends, Kelly Bannister, she said, B次元官网网址楻ay, can you send me what youB次元官网网址檝e got so far?B次元官网网址� My mind at the time was all over the place. I didnB次元官网网址檛 think there was any sense to what I wrote at all.B次元官网网址�
But once the right people were all aligned, including Bannister, Cruickshanks, Askew Creek PublishingB次元官网网址檚 Warren Goulding and Connie Manning and others, the right steps were taken to make the book a reality and a GoFundMe campaign raised the necessary funds.
Hardly a day goes by now when Charlie isnB次元官网网址檛 on a public speaking engagement, a Zoom meeting or conducting media interviews. He also had a book launch at the Duncan campus of Vancouver Island University on Monday, Sept. 26. More on that session will be published next week.
Charlie has even become something of a Tik Tok sensation.
B次元官网网址淚 was quite surprised,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 thought one day IB次元官网网址檓 going to try it. I talked about being a residential school survivor. I was sitting with my son and he said, B次元官网网址榙ad, youB次元官网网址檝e got a lot of views on your Tik Tok.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
He has 15,000 people following him, in fact, and more than 100,000 views and counting.
Charlie is making it a mission to continue as a determined spokesman, as much for others who havenB次元官网网址檛 been provided the opportunity for their own voices to be heard.
B次元官网网址淚 feel itB次元官网网址檚 my responsibility as a survivor so it will never happen again,B次元官网网址� he offered. B次元官网网址淪exual abuse can happen in many different ways. ItB次元官网网址檚 important people realize they donB次元官网网址檛 have to accept their situations. They have to get help and become strong and heal.
B次元官网网址淭he big thing is I hope we will all heal and move towards healing. ThereB次元官网网址檚 still a lot of trauma and pain out in our communities yet.B次元官网网址�
CharlieB次元官网网址檚 personal pain and that of his family and other survivors stays with him.
B次元官网网址淲e live with it for the rest of our lives,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always in our minds. ItB次元官网网址檚 always in our hearts. ItB次元官网网址檚 very tough not to think about it some days. I felt dirty and I felt I shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be here.B次元官网网址�
Charlie has always been grateful for the loving support of his wife Lorraine and sons Tony, Adrian and Kyle.
Ray and Lorraine are still dealing with another test of resilience awaiting a return to their home bordering on a year ago following last NovemberB次元官网网址檚 flood. They lived at the Best Western Plus Chemainus Inn for three months before moving to the Thunderbird Motel in Duncan where theyB次元官网网址檙e still residing.
Theirs is the only home on Tsussie that hasnB次元官网网址檛 be reoccupied due to foundation issues. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 hoping they can resolve that one,B次元官网网址� said Charlie.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 very, very hard since I canB次元官网网址檛 cook any traditional food. I have no stove or anything to cook on. It gets costly to eat out all the time.B次元官网网址�
CharlieB次元官网网址檚 resilience and fortitude to overcome challenges truly knows no bounds.
don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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