Penny is a straight 'A' student, and is part of the school newspaper staff. She is a talented singer, as shown when she becomes a solo singer for Wizard Kelly Productions, but quits after missing her old life. She always listens to and respects her parents, but often caves in to peer pressure. She enjoys hanging out with her friends, even though they have gotten her into trouble, and left her to face danger by herself many times. Penny Proud (voiced by Kyla Pratt ): The main protagonist of the series, a 14-year-old girl who is usually embarrassed by her father, Oscar.If you are a former residential school student in distress, or have been affected by the residential school system and need help, you can contact the 24-hour Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line: 1-86Īdditional mental-health support and resources for Indigenous people are available here.The main characters of The Proud Family (from left to right): Penny Proud, Suga Mama Proud, Puff the Dog, Trudy Proud, Oscar Proud, and BeBe and CeCe Proud (below) "We look towards stories that enlightened us, that unveiled the things we've gone through, but at the same time how we can help with positive storytelling so our kids aren't bombarded with the same stuff we were bombarded with in school," he said.
"Taking away the pain for me was breaking the chains on my daughter and making sure she was never hurt," said Smith.įor Sxwithul'twx, he has taken his experience and turned it into a passion as he is a successful television producer where he works to amplify Indigenous voices. She said she is preparing to write her story down.
Smith has done years of counselling and has found some peace. "I believe by sharing my story, we allow healing to happen," said Charlie. "It's a lot of tough history," said Sxwithul'twx, "I think about my mother who was there for years, my sisters who spent years there, and my uncles who all were forced into that environment."ĭespite the pain all three people suffered, it is not their pain that connects them, it is their perseverance.Ĭharlie has overcome alcoholism to become a public speaker and a key part in creating Canada's first national Truth and Reconciliation Day. The raw brutality of Canada's Indian residential school system is front and centre as unmarked graves continue to be discovered throughout the country, including one found on Penelakut Island, in B.C. "She went and got a hammer and a nail and she nailed my left foot to the floor. While there, she was beaten, sexually abused and even assaulted with a weapon. Smith went to a school near Tofino called Christie School for half a decade. "From age five all the way up to 12 (there) was constant sexual molestation from the priests, brothers, and the nuns," said Trudy Smith, who also went to a residential school in B.C.
What the black and white pictures from the schools don't show is the children's innocence that was lost. "Residential schools created some of the most perfect hate machines ever, and then released us back into the community."
I can't shake that memory from my head," said Eddie Charlie, who attended a residential school in British Columbia. "All I can see is that priest smiling down on me. As unmarked graves have been discovered throughout Canada over the last year, Canadians have learned about those who never made it out of residential schools.īut those who survived are working on not letting their past impact their future.įor survivors, they are hiding generations of pain.
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