No Time to Say Goodbye: Children's Stories of Kuper Island Residential School

Dave Hutchinson is assistant superintendent of the School District of
Mystery Lake in Thompson, Manitoba.

For some time now, I have noted that Aboriginal authors are forging a
distinct genre that is neither exclusively fiction or nonfiction, but
somewhere in between. It is also evident that the pedagogical
applications of storytelling (sometimes referred to as “the oral
tradition”) tend to underscore this unique genre. This text, centred
on the recollections of six Tsartlip Elders, is no exception. By
“fictionalizing” the Elders’ stories, the authors weave together a
comprehensive—and moving—account of life at the Kuper Island
Residential School. In so doing, they provide general insight into the
impact of residential schooling on First Nations individuals, families,
and communities. Their book will therefore appeal to those who have a
special interest in First Nation’s history, federal Indian policy, and
church-run residential schooling.

As an education administrator working on the development of
post-colonial policy and practice, I would suggest that No Time to Say
Goodbye has great value for students and teachers alike. Students,
particularly at the junior high level, could read this text in support
of a host of social studies/Aboriginal studies and language arts
objectives. Those who lead teacher preservice and inservice would find
the stories a strong support for the kind of awareness development that
is central to the successful implementation of anti-racist,
cross-cultural instruction and curricula. As indicated above, the
stories of Aboriginal peoples are embedded in a distinct educational
philosophy, and it is within the realm of education that this collection
best fits.