Transcript

I noticed that one time of the year everybody would be gone, and I knew they went to school but I didn’t know what school was. And, umm, and I used to want to go with them and then when I turned six years old it was my turn, so my mom got us all brand new clothes and everything.

When I got to residential school it was this great big building, and umm, my brothers were separated from me, and my older sister was taken to the big girls’ side because she was eight years older than me. So she was considered a big girl and I was a little girl and that was my first experience of being alone.

They gave you clothes with numbers. You were now a number. And the number I remember is 33. Every time they called 33 that was me! I had to go, go forward.

When I went to residential school I seen a lot of children who didn’t know one word of English, so I seen them get beat, a lot.

For me, when I came out of residential school, I was prejudice against myself. I did not like being an Indian. I wish I would have had my culture as a kid. I really do. Because I wouldn’t of had to live with this shame. It’s awful to be ashamed of who you are. I think if all our people knew the beauty of our culture, they would feel so proud. And I know I don’t even know all of it yet, but the glimpse I do see is awesome.