Apple trees planted at former residential school in Brantford, Ont.
A fruit once forbidden to children at the former Mohawk Institute residential school in Brantford, Ont. will grow on the grounds once again.
Ten apple trees were planted Tuesday morning at a ceremony filled with symbolism, hosted by the Survivor's Secretariat.
“You could walk around, you could smell those apples, but you were never allowed to go outside of those boundaries,” said Roberta Hill, one of several Mohawk Institute survivors who spoke at Tuesday’s event.
The Mohawk Institute was Canada's longest operating residential school. It opened in 1828 and closed in 1970.
An apple orchard used to grow on the grounds, survivors recounted.
The fruit was off limits, but children were so hungry they’d risk and endure the punishment that would come if they ate one.
“You look back on it, how could that be – such a cruel thing to do to children who were hungry,” said Hill.
“There was a lot of hunger here. Kids had to basically fend for themselves, [even] if meant going to the dump to get food or whatever.”
The boys at the school had to work in the orchard to harvest the fruit.
“Children were used to tend to an orchard, but were never allowed to eat the fruits of their labour," said Six Nations of the Grand River Chief Mark Hill.
The apple is also a symbol of language theft, as it was one of the first English words children at the institution were taught, said Hill.
Another survivor who spoke on Tuesday recounted how they were always told there was a child buried under each apple tree.
Eventually the orchard was removed.
Survivor Sherlene Bomberry said Tuesday’s planting event meant “a regrowth, remembering, understanding” for her.
A ceremony was held to bless the seeds and plant new life at the site, which is now home to the Woodland Cultural Centre.
"I want my great grandchildren, my grandchildren to know why some of our lives are like this, in disarray, disconnection, everything I want them to know," Bomberry said.
"When they come there, they're going to have the understanding why. 'Yeah you can have an apple. you're not going to get in trouble for it.'"
A documentary was also released Tuesday detailing the history and significance of the apple trees at the Mohawk Institute and the stories of survivors.
The Woodland Cultural Centre has now reached its $23 million fundraising goal in the ongoing effort to convert the former residential school into an interpretive centre.
RESOURCES
Support is available to anyone affected by the ongoing effects of residential schools.
- The National Indian Residential School Crisis Line can be reached 24-hours a day, 7-days a week at 1-866-925-4419.
- The Hope for Wellness Help Line provides 24/7 counselling and crisis intervention and can help you find wellness supports in your area. It can be reached at 1-855-242-331.
- Six Nations also operates a 24/7 crisis line, which can reached at 519-445-2204 or 1-866-445-2204
- Six Nations Mental Health and Addictions can be reached Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 519-445-2143
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Biden declares in State of Union U.S. is 'unbowed, unbroken'
U.S. President Joe Biden is using his State of the Union address Tuesday night to call on Republicans to work with him to 'finish the job' of rebuilding the economy and uniting the nation as he seeks to overcome pessimism in the country and navigate political divisions in Washington.

Inflation 'turning the corner' after multiple rate increases: BoC governor
After raising interest rates eight consecutive times, Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem told an audience in Quebec City on Tuesday that inflation is showing signs of 'turning the corner' and that the coming year 'will be different.'
PM Trudeau presents premiers $196B health-care funding deal, with $46B in new funding over the next decade
The federal government is pledging to increase health funding to Canada's provinces and territories by $196.1 billion over the next 10 years, in a long-awaited deal aimed at addressing Canada's crumbling health-care systems with $46.2 billion in new funding.
Before and after: How Toronto's MARZ uses AI to make motion picture magic
While much of internet is still buzzing about the wonders of ChatGPT, a Toronto-based technology and visual effects company is making its own splash in Hollywood using artificial intelligence.
'Risky' for Ottawa to take strings-attached approach to health-care negotiations: Jean Charest
As negotiations continue between premiers and the federal government, former Quebec premier Jean Charest is criticizing the feds' string-attached approach to health-care funding, stating that Ottawa should not be in the business of operating health-care systems.
A sensor you draw with a pencil could be used for 'smart diapers,' contactless switches and respiratory monitors
We may soon be able to detect humidity levels, respiratory changes or a too-wet diaper, all with a new type of sensor — one created by drawing with a pencil on specially-treated paper.
How more than 100 women realized they may have dated, been deceived by the same man
An Ontario man is being accused of changing his name, profession and life story multiple times to potentially more than 100 women online before leaving some out thousands of dollars.
Texas man jailed in Dallas monkey case says he'd do it again
A 24-year-old man now linked to an unusual string of crimes that kept the Dallas Zoo on the lookout for missing animals told police that after he swiped two monkeys from their enclosure, he took them onto the city's light rail system to make his getaway, court records show.
Balloons and drones among 768 Canadian UFO reports from 2022: researcher
Balloons and drones were among 768 reported UFO sightings in Canada last year, according to Winnipeg-based researcher Chris Rutkowski, who also found that eight per cent of all cases remained unexplained.