Weagamow’s Harry Kenequanash called for the development of a program for Ralph Rowe sexual abuse survivors at his Jan. 25 Ralph Rowe Overcomers presentation at Lakehead University.
“We really need to build a framework that involves the victims, the families and leadership,” says the Lakehead University Honours Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Learning graduate. “We can develop a program where each individual can work on their own issues. What I’ve always dreamed of is having a building to be made, not just for the Ralph Rowe victims, but for any victims that need assistance.”
Rowe was a former minister, pilot and Scout leader who was convicted of 39 cases of indecent assault against First Nation boys in 1994, for which he served four-and-a-half years in prison. Rowe has since been convicted of about 20 more sex crimes. He worked in 18 NAN First Nation communities between 1971 and 1986.
“There was one time that we had all the family members involved at one of the workshops we had,” Kenequanash says. “We had a gathering in Wunnumin and the families came in as well to support their loved ones. It was emotional, but yet we had great support from our families, so that is what I would like to see more happening within the communities.”
Kenequanash says it is important to learn from history, and to not forget about what happened to himself and the other boys.
“We can’t ever forget history; history is part of our culture,” Kenequanash says. “We need to learn from that, and this is how we are going to learn from that by rearranging the mechanism of how we can help one another, the individuals, the families and the communities. Learn from that and learn to build from that.”
Kenequanash screened a 2005 film about the destruction and burning of the Old Anglican Mission House where Rowe used to stay while visiting Weagamow during his presentation.
“I was fortunate to be involved in that (film),” Kenequanash says. “A whole bunch of individuals came from various communities … to disintegrate this mission house where all of this abuse took place.”
Kenequanash says he had flashbacks during the destruction of the mission house.
“Because of the support I had in there, I was able to disclose where all of these things happened,” Kenequanash says. “Everything was there in front of my eyes, all these memories came back. We saw the names of this pedophile and we burned those. And when we burned those, some of our feelings and hurt drifted away, but yet we still carry that pain. And we still had a lot of work to do in regards to moving forward. But when we tore down that building, I felt like this little child that was in there and the shame he carried disappeared. And I think this is why today I am still able to speak about it openly and freely. Nothing will stop me from advocating for what I do.”
Kenequanash delivered the Ralph Rowe Overcomers presentation through the Blue Sky Community Healing Centre’s One Tribe Cultural Diversity Coaching Series.
The series includes a variety of presentations, including: Residential School System and Unfamiliar Impacts; Anishinaabe Cultural Practices; Overview of Ancient First Peoples and Archaeology in Northern Ontario; and Truth About Treaties – Before, During, After, Now.
Contact Cindy Crowe at crowe@tbaytel.net for information.
I am the product, evolution of many thousands of years as are you. I grew up on the land in the remote far north of Ontario following in the footsteps of my...
One of the most beautiful serene places I’ve ever visited was on the banks of the Opinagau River in northern Ontario, just near the corner of land where...