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.
