Victims of the Past

• ISBN13: 9780228842965
• Binding: Hardcover
• Subject: N/A
• Publisher: Restoring Balance Consulting
• Publisher Imprint: Restoring Balance Consulting
• Publication Date: October 16, 2020
• Pages: 336
• Original Price: GBP 41.99
• Language: English
• Edition: N/A
• Item Weight: 1339 grams
• BISAC Subject(s): General

• Victims of the Past provides a clear understanding of Canadian history from a First Nations point of view. Gerald Kiesman has spent 20 years researching how the Indigenous, First Nation, Metis and Inuit people have been impacted by colonization. Upon his research, he recognized that the history written about Canada and the Indigenous, First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples was far outdated and was from a one-sided view, the European point of view. The books in libraries, book stores and information in the media, did not speak the truth about the relationship between the British, French, Spanish and Canada with the Indigenous, First Nations, Inuit and Metis people, and did not fully identify the violence inflicted upon thousands of Indigenous children in the Indian Residential Schools, along with other assimilation actions such as the Indian day schools, Indian hospitals and child welfare sixties scoop.

• Victims of the Past looks at how Indigenous, First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples lost control of their land and resources, laws imposed upon them, court battles, treaties, settlement agreements and how Canada was formed by European immigrants and looks at the history and impact of the government/church run Indian residential schools, day schools and Indian hospitals, and how it has impacted generations of Indigenous, First Nations, Inuit and Metis people today.

• Victims of the Past identifies the many challenges Indigenous, First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples experience in todays society from the impact of the Indian residential school such as; poverty, homelessness, suicide crisis, high rate of Indigenous children/youth in foster care, high rate of Indigenous, First Nations, Metis and Inuit in the correctional institutions, along with missing and murdered women and girls and also experience systemic racism in all areas of health, justice, education, politics and in the general public.

• Victims of the Past provides an interpretation of Canadian history from an Indigenous point of view. Victims of the Past provides a direction in understanding the relationship between the Indigenous, First Nations, Inuit and Metis people and first settlers. Educating society from the Indigenous point of view is paramount in understanding the history of Canada.
• "Truly, a unique book". Phil Fontaine (former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations)

Kiesman, Gerald Dennis: - In 1997, Gerald Kiesman started his healing of a childhood trauma. In 2000, he recognized that majority of the information on trauma and post traumatic stress disorder was written in academic terminology and that there was not a book that included a theory of trauma in laymen's term with journal writing and healing exercises. He also recognized that many of the books on Canadian and First Nations history was written from a European point of view. He set out a goal to develop a trauma healing guide and re-write Canadian history from a First Nation point of view. In 1998, Gerald went to the Prince Rupert City Council and asked if they can donate the gym for the 5 day Port Alberni Residential School court case to host a feast each night of the court case, it was approved. Gerald called a meeting in Prince Rupert, B.C with community organizations, and Anglican and United Church reps, asking if they would be able to provide a dinner to the plaintiffs and their families each night of the court case, in which they did. Gerald was also in the local newspaper and on Skeena Journal Television News, sharing his story and the need for community healing the impact of government/church run residential schools. In 2000, Gerald and his Family moved to Victoria, BC, he completed a Professional Counseling Certificate program, and in October 2000, he was hired as a North Vancouver Island Outreach Worker for Inter-Tribal Health Authority. In 2002, Gerald completed Level 13 Resource Social Work Delegation Authority, he was the First Indigenous person to complete this stage in Victoria, BC. In 2003, Gerald worked with the Nuu-chah-nulth Healing Project, Gerald was able to complete beginners' level 1,2,3 Somatic Experience Trauma Counseling working with the healing project. Gerald was also able to work with a traditional healer and learn west coast traditional healing and was able to assist a team in escorting survivors of the Indian residential school back to the Indian residential school they attended as part of their healing. In 2004, Gerald worked with the Indian Residential Survivors Society as a Resolution Health Support Worker, he provided health support at approximately 150 residential school dispute hearings. In 2006, his family and Gerald drove across Turtle Island/Canada to visit British and French historical forts and government/ Indigenous past land disputes, as part of his research for the book "Victims of the Past". In 2007, Gerald completed a 2-year, Business Administration Diploma. In 2010, Gerald started his business Restoring Balance Consulting, he has presented at least 400 workshops throughout Canada with many Indigenous, First Nations, Metis communities and with urban community organizations. In 2010, CBC national news filmed a 1-day workshop with Gerald and former residential school students at Gitanmaax, BC, it was aired on the first night of the Truth and Reconciliation Conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In 2010, he facilitated a 2-day workshop on the topic "Trauma and PTSD" for Correctional Services Canada/National Parole Board, providing training to Victim Service Workers who worked with the families of the victims from the Robert Pickton court case and Air India Bombing court case. In 2017, Gerald published his book "Trauma Healing Guide". Gerald has 20 years experience working with Indigenous, First Nations, Inuit and Metis people and non-Indigenous people throughout Turtle Island/Canada.