After Lesa Semmler and her family finished giving their testimony at the national inquiry hearings into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, another family approached her and said after they heard her speak, they felt more comfortable to go up and give their own testimony.
Photo courtesy of Lesa Semmler
Semmler, who is from Inuvik, says sharing stories of past trauma is integral to healing as a community.
SA国际影视传媒淚 feel like weSA国际影视传媒檙e opening up PandoraSA国际影视传媒檚 box and now weSA国际影视传媒檙e finally going to start talking about it,SA国际影视传媒� Semmler said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e going to start working together to get healthier as a community. We can heal ourselves. We donSA国际影视传媒檛 need someone to come in and fix us.SA国际影视传媒�
Semmler and her family were the second to testify at the inquiry hearings at the Chateau Nova hotel in Yellowknife Jan. 23-25.
In her testimony, Semmler tells the story of how when she was eight years old, her mother Joyce Semmler was murdered by her common-law husband, Peter Emile on Jan. 11, 1985. Her mother was planning to leave town with her that same day.
SA国际影视传媒淧eople think, SA国际影视传媒極h, theySA国际影视传媒檙e kids, they wonSA国际影视传媒檛 remember,SA国际影视传媒� but we remember,SA国际影视传媒� Semmler said in her testimony, as she recalled the abuse her mother went through at the hands of Emile.
SA国际影视传媒淚 felt so strongly about being able to tell my story in the Northwest Territories because we all know whatSA国际影视传媒檚 going on, yet we donSA国际影视传媒檛 talk about it,SA国际影视传媒� Semmler said. SA国际影视传媒淪o what I wanted to show through my testimony is that we need to talk about it, and not letting it hide away. The more we ignore it, the longer the violence is going to continue.SA国际影视传媒�
After her mother died, Semmler went to live in Inuvik with her great-grandparents. She said this was integral to her healing process.
SA国际影视传媒淚 didnSA国际影视传媒檛 have to go into care, so I was able to take part in my culture, because I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 get taken away from my home,SA国际影视传媒� Semmler said.
SA国际影视传媒淚 worked hard, I went to school, I got educated, and ISA国际影视传媒檓 trying to be there for other people to say SA国际影视传媒榊ou can turn your life around. It can be better.SA国际影视传媒� But we need somewhere that our families can get support, too, before a tragedy happens.SA国际影视传媒�
Semmler emphasizes the importance of healing and supporting entire families, including men.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 good that weSA国际影视传媒檙e focusing on our women, but we need to focus on the men, too. The men need help and support and healthy ways to deal with their struggles,SA国际影视传媒� Semmler said. SA国际影视传媒淚f we want our families to be healthy, we have to include the men.SA国际影视传媒�
Semmler said she hopes her testimony will help those who are living through similar situations today.
SA国际影视传媒淚f someone hears my story who is living in that right now, and they have children, maybe it will give them the strength to decide that they donSA国际影视传媒檛 want their kids to have those memories,SA国际影视传媒� Semmler said. SA国际影视传媒淪o theySA国际影视传媒檒l change the way theySA国际影视传媒檙e living or realize theySA国际影视传媒檝e tried, but change wonSA国际影视传媒檛 happen, and theySA国际影视传媒檒l leave a situation if itSA国际影视传媒檚 unsafe.SA国际影视传媒�
In November 2018, the inquirySA国际影视传媒檚 commissioners are set to release a report that looks at the causes of violence against Indigenous women and girls in Canada using the information gathered at the hearings. It will also make recommendations as to how the systemic causes of this violence can be eliminated, as well as how to honour victims.
An earlier version of this story appeared in print and contained incorrect information. Joyce Semmler died when Lesa Semmler was eight years old. Peter Emile was not Lesa Semmler's father. Inuvik Drum apologizes for any embarrassment or confusion the error may have caused.
