Yellowknife residents have been moved by the generosity of Charles Delorme. The 64 year-old man known as Charlie, lived on the streets of the Northwest Territories’ capital for nearly 40 years. Now, after receiving a financial settlement from Canada’s federal government for the time he spent in residential school as a child, he is eager to share his good fortune.
So far, Charlie Delorme has donated $10,000 to the Stanton Territorial Hospital Foundation. He donated $5,000 to Yellowknife’s Salvation Army. And then donated $2,000 to the Sidedoor Youth Centre in Yellowknife. The hospital has said the donation will help the pediatric unit, and provide care for local children.
People have been inspired by Charlie Delorme’s kindness and some have established a Facebook group called “Charlie’s Angels” with the hope of matching Charlie’s $2,000 donation. Charlie Delorme took care of himself as well, and has found a place to live.
Residential schools were the boarding school institutions set up by various religious orders, supported by the Canadian government in the late 19th century. The goal was to assimilate Canada’s aboriginal people, taking children as young as five, away from their parents and communities. The children were seldom allowed to return home and often kept in very abusive situations until they were 16. The schools, had a disastrous effect on aboriginal communities with generations of aboriginal people suffering the after-effects of these traumas. The remaining schools were closed in the 1990’s.
In June 2008, the Canadian government apologized, and provided money for financial compensation to the victims of abusive and cruel situations. A Truth and Reconciliation process is underway across Canada, allowing people to tell their stories, often for the first time.
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