A collection of residential-school reminiscences captures the heartache of separation and loss

In the spring of 1966, Juliette passed away, still aged nine, in La Tuque due to complications of an outbreak of a virus at the school she attended. After more than five decades, Caroline and Emily are now finally telling Juliette’s story.

Book: E nâtamukw miyeyimuwin: Residential School Recovery Stories

Cree Storytellers from James Bay are sharing intimate accounts of trauma, recovery and joy.

Cree storytellers share trauma recovery stories in groundbreaking book

While the subject matter is difficult, the protagonists’ remarkable resilience overcomes the despair. DyckFehderau said these are the strongest, most courageous people she’s ever met.

Mémoires de pensionnats (French)

Le récit de George Shecapio est pour l’essentiel basé sur la faim qui le tenaillait constamment au pensionnat indien de La Tuque, il y a plus de 55 ans. Au point qu’il mangeait ses fèves au lard une à une, au point de voler des sandwichs une nuit, au point de se jurer de manger à sa faim lorsqu’il serait grand. Le récit de M. Shecapio se termine par une anecdote où, isolé dans la nature par une nuit glaciale, la connaissance de la nature mais aussi son imagination l’aident à survivre.

Winschgaoug (Cree)

Ruth DyckFehderau, writer for E Nâtamukw Miyeyimuwin: Residential School Recovery Stories of the James Bay Cree

Radio Active with Jessica Ng, Min Dhariwal

We hear from Ruth DyckFehdarau and Solomon Awashish, a James Bay Cree Elder, who survived residential school.