Today, on Orange Shirt Day, we bear witness to the innocent children who were torn from their homes—those who never returned, and those who carried the heavy burden of survival. This day forces us to confront the enduring wreckage of a policy designed to "kill the Indian, save the man." For generations, residential schools forced an unnatural weight into the bloodlines of Indigenous families. My grandfather and so many of our relatives were forced into these boarding schools, subjected to severe cruelties and systemic abuse that defied humanity. That pain does not vanish with time; it ripples downward, quietly shaping modern vulnerabilities, fueling unrecognized grief, and trapping people in cycles of self-destruction they cannot easily trace. Yet, this legacy of suffering is not the final chapter, because we come from an unbroken line of warriors. Resilience is etched into our very being, giving us the power to rise above these inherited wounds. True healing begins when we master our emotional landscapes and embrace an absolute truth: our identity is entirely separate from the trauma inflicted upon us. The destructive patterns handed down through the generations are not our natural state; they are merely the echoes of the violence used against children who ultimately deserved protection. By consciously breaking these cycles, we forge an unyielding strength out of this historical injustice. We must ensure the sacrifices of those who came before us mean something—by choosing to stand tall, reclaiming our dignity, and honor their endurance. We heal the nightmares of the past by stepping back into the warmth of our heritage—returning to the sacred rhythms of our way of life, the songs, the power of our dances and ceremonies, and the vibrant life intended for every individual by the Great Spirit. Ultimately, this truth stretches far beyond our own borders. As we honor our own ancestors, we must remember the innocent children across the entire world, who still suffer under the weight of wars, conflict, neglect, and systemic cruelty. The way a society treats its children dictates the destiny of the world; when we fail them, we compromise our collective tomorrow. By standing up for the youngest among us today, we heal the global bloodline, protect the future of humanity, and ensure that innocence is cherished as the sacred gift that life intended it to be. Never forget!