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SA国际影视传媒楻eady to killSA国际影视传媒 before regaining pride

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Sarah Jerome, a GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n elder, spent a lifetime working through and reconciling her experience at residential school. Now she advises youth on how to become proud to be GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo

SA国际影视传媒The first day I walked into that residential school is when the anger started,SA国际影视传媒 said Sarah Jerome, a GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n elder from Fort McPherson who was taken from her home at the age of seven to attend residential school in Aklavik.

SA国际影视传媒When I left at the end of 12 years, I left residential school in a rage. I was ready to kill somebody.SA国际影视传媒

She recalls the experience of being removed from her parents vividly.

SA国际影视传媒Fort McPherson to Aklavik was a 40-minute flight, but to me it was halfway around the world, because I wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 able to see my parents for 10 months of the year,SA国际影视传媒 said Jerome.

She was speaking to the Inuvik Drum following a celebration for the 25th anniversary of the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Comprehensive Land Claims Agreement.

The topic of what it means to be proud to be GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n was a theme during the event.

Jerome took years to figure that out and reconcile her experience at residential school.

SA国际影视传媒Over the years ISA国际影视传媒檝e come to realize that there were some benefits to being in the residential school, for example getting an education, and I eventually became a teacher so that was a benefit to me,SA国际影视传媒 she said.

She used that education to work for her people in language and culture.

SA国际影视传媒I eventually became very proud of who I was by taking back my power, taking back my power and saying no more, ISA国际影视传媒檓 not going to bow down to any of the non-aboriginal people anymore, ISA国际影视传媒檓 going to take back my power and ISA国际影视传媒檓 going to work for my people and ISA国际影视传媒檓 going to take back my language and culture,SA国际影视传媒 said Jerome. SA国际影视传媒淎nd thatSA国际影视传媒檚 what ISA国际影视传媒檝e done, as an educator and now as an elder.SA国际影视传媒

She now teaches a life skills course to youth, during which she poses the question of what it means to be proud to be GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n.

SA国际影视传媒A lot of them really donSA国际影视传媒檛 know because of the intergenerational effects of residential school,SA国际影视传媒 she said.

After her experience, Jerome had to work on forgiveness and becoming colourblind.

SA国际影视传媒That was the most traumatic experience ISA国际影视传媒檝e ever experienced in my life,SA国际影视传媒 she said about being taken from her home to attend school in Aklavik.

SA国际影视传媒ISA国际影视传媒檝e generally dealt with (issues stemming from residential school) but I have not yet to deal with those two years where I was taken away from my loving, caring family, speaking my first language and living on the land.SA国际影视传媒

She gives youth a history lesson on what resilient people their ancestors were and how proud they were to be hunters, trappers, fishermen and more.

SA国际影视传媒Then I say to them, SA国际影视传媒榃hat are you doing now?SA国际影视传媒橲A国际影视传媒 said Jerome.

SA国际影视传媒A lot of them live in town, theySA国际影视传媒檙e into drugs and alcohol, so I tell them how are you going to change that, how are you going to be proud to be GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n? ItSA国际影视传媒檚 not only one thing. Eventually youSA国际影视传媒檙e going to have a lot of experiences where youSA国际影视传媒檙e going to be proud to do certain things in your life, and eventually youSA国际影视传媒檒l be proud to be GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n.SA国际影视传媒

For Jerome, pride has come in ticking things off her bucket list lately. She made a speech at Harvard last year and also acted in the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n film The Sun At Midnight.

SA国际影视传媒ISA国际影视传媒檓 very proud of my accomplishments as an educator and all the different thing ISA国际影视传媒檝e done in my life,SA国际影视传媒 said Jerome.

SA国际影视传媒I think ISA国际影视传媒檝e come around full circle and ISA国际影视传媒檝e learned to look back now and say thank you to the residential school for providing an education for me so that I was able to pursue all these things that I did.SA国际影视传媒

Her challenge now is hearing impairment.

SA国际影视传媒I refuse to give up on account of my hearing,SA国际影视传媒 she said.

She hopes to help youth discover their identity and help her people move on from the lasting effects from events of the past.

SA国际影视传媒That residential school intergenerational effect has to stop with them now,SA国际影视传媒 she said.





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