Spirit of the Grassroots People

Raymond Mason (1947—2022) was a survivor, activist, and Elder from Peguis First Nation, Manitoba.Jackson Pind is assistant professor of Indigenous methodologies at the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies, Trent University.Theodore Michael Christou is professor of social studies and history education and associate dean of graduate studies and research in the Faculty of Education, Queen's University.

"This is an important story for all Canadians. In sharing his story publicly, Raymond Mason is speaking on behalf of countless survivors. The story is one of advocacy as well as personal experience." Tricia Logan, Residential School History and Dialogue Centre, University of British Columbia"Accounts such as Mason's are vital to help us understand fully the struggle to achieve justice for school abuse survivors. There is a role for smaller groups of advocates in the battle, even if they do not get much attention. As Mason says, "everyone, whatever their efforts were, big or small, had a part in bringing about the Indian Residential School Survivors' Agreement … we all had a part in the success of the bigger victory." The work of Reconciliation Canada, the National Indian Residential School Survivors Society, and Mi'kmaq groups created pressure that made the federal government and churches more willing to listen. It is useful to have accounts like Spirit of the Grassroots People to make us aware of those contributions." Canadian Historical Review