A review by readwithrhys
The Education of Augie Merasty: A Residential School Memoir, by Joseph Auguste Merasty
5.0
Disclaimer: I read this book because of my history class titled "Native Peoples of Canada since 1867". It was required reading for my research essay based on residential schools.
I don't know how to rate this, so I am just giving it 5 stars. How do I say that this memoir, a book about someone's life in residential schools, is not worth 5 stars? I can't.
This memoir has opened my eyes because the Canadian government covers up so much stuff when it comes to what happened in residential schools. In order for us to get information, we have to read memoirs or read essays or textbooks AFTER primary school. This memoir shows me how much the Canadian government wants to keep this part of our history covered for eternity.
The memoir itself brings readers to see what happened in residential schools through the eyes of Augie. We see first hand how some Sisters, Brothers and Fathers were not bad people, they just thought that Indigenous peoples were "savages" needing "saving". Not only were some good people, we see the bad ones. We see first hand the abuse that happens, physical, psychological, and sexual.
This memoir in general really just showed me how much I sometimes despise the Canadian government when it comes to the reconciliation aspect towards Indigenous peoples. It shows that no money can help what happened to them. It shows that the government needst to do more to show citizens just how cruel our seemingly "nice" government can do.
I don't know how to rate this, so I am just giving it 5 stars. How do I say that this memoir, a book about someone's life in residential schools, is not worth 5 stars? I can't.
This memoir has opened my eyes because the Canadian government covers up so much stuff when it comes to what happened in residential schools. In order for us to get information, we have to read memoirs or read essays or textbooks AFTER primary school. This memoir shows me how much the Canadian government wants to keep this part of our history covered for eternity.
The memoir itself brings readers to see what happened in residential schools through the eyes of Augie. We see first hand how some Sisters, Brothers and Fathers were not bad people, they just thought that Indigenous peoples were "savages" needing "saving". Not only were some good people, we see the bad ones. We see first hand the abuse that happens, physical, psychological, and sexual.
This memoir in general really just showed me how much I sometimes despise the Canadian government when it comes to the reconciliation aspect towards Indigenous peoples. It shows that no money can help what happened to them. It shows that the government needst to do more to show citizens just how cruel our seemingly "nice" government can do.