Reply #25: I am a Dene First Nation person from the Western Arctic of Canada

[CitizenWill]

Our history was not as bad as in the United States but shitty stuff did happen.

The Dene are part cousins to the Navajo and Yellowknife aboriginals in Florida.

My mother is a residential school survivor, it tore our family apart and damaged our heritage. When she got out she said she learned how to pray and that was it. She was a stranger in her hamlet (they are hamlets up here not towns) as the family link had been broken. She had to move out of the area for fear of marrying a second cousin or relative. This was knowledge that was passed down from our hamlet elders.

She doesn't see the damage that Residential school did to her and was happy there. Life at home at the time in the 30's was dismal. So she lost her heritage and gained shame for being a native. I wasn't told we were native until I was in my early 20's.

Things are good now and looking brighter there is a big drive to renew our traditions and culture.

I am much happier here than when I lived in Southern California. I was shocked to find out the treatment of the Natives down there.

Marsi-Cho

Will