By Geronimo Henry, #48
Mohawk Residential School Survivor
Remembering Christmas at “The Mush Hole” 1942-1953
It was three days before Christmas
‘we had to dress in our Sunday best
and march downtown to the Kirby hotel with all of the rest
We arose in the morning when we heard such a clatter
It was the boys’ master saying there’s chores to be done, let’s hear no chatter
We were paraded through Brantford for our Christmas meal
Watched and made fun of by people so unreal
What a way to treat children, we didn’t know it was cruel
The dirty little Indians from the Mohawk Residential School
On Christmas Eve there was no great joy
We had a Santa who brought us some little toy
We would get dressed again in our Sunday clothes
We’d help the little ones get ready around seven or so
We’d march down to the mess-hall and there sit in rows
Waiting, for Santa with ribbons and bows
The boys on one side, and the girls on the other
Mr. Zimmerman would lead carols one after another
Then down came Santa between the girls and boys
Up to the front to hand out boxes of toys
When our number was called for, we had no names
We’d collect a gift, candy, and orange, all the same
One Christmas I got a book beyond my years
I was so disappointed I broke down in tears
When the boys’ master asked, Hey why are you crying?
I was so sad and that was no lying
He then brought me a toy tank, and everyone wanted to play
It was the best gift, and it made my day
It was a great treasure for years to come
I cherished that tank from when I was young
But it was taken away when I out-grew the toy
Only to be smashed and broken by a much younger boy
Then Christmas came and it was a long lonesome day
Get up for chores and get them out of the way
No one was allowed to go home for the holiday season
Little ones crying and they had good reason
Wondering what Mom and Dad were doing at home
Are they having a dinner while I’m left to roam
So we had to make our own fun of icing the hills
And ride down on cardboard ending in spills
So don’t criticize, or condemn me for the things that I say
Cause I’m just remembering a long ago Christmas day.
