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A review by paperbacksandpines
They Called Me Number One: Secrets and Survival at an Indian Residential School by Bev Sellars
4.0
I thought this book might be similar to [b:Broken Circle: The Dark Legacy of Indian Residential Schools: A Memoir|9462473|Broken Circle The Dark Legacy of Indian Residential Schools A Memoir|Theodore Fontaine|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1462903835l/9462473._SY75_.jpg|14347391] but although the experiences of both authors were similar, Sellars' writing was more descriptive. She recalled specific examples from her time at residential schools that specifically detailed all of the horrors of her experiences.
The injustice, cruelty, humiliation, and shame produced by the administration of her Catholic residential school was inhumane. I received a better understanding of the generational trauma that has been inflicted on the first nations people. Sellars detailed 3 generations worth of trauma within her family at this particular residential school. Just the sheer amount of trauma Sellers' grandmother and family went through with 8/9 of her children seeing early deaths that were related to their experiences in residential school as well as the discrimination and insults that had accumulated throughout their lives.
This was not an easy read, especially since at the time of the book's writing, nothing substantial was done to address the trauma the British Columbian government had inflicted on the tribes within its realm and the total lack of remorse, goodwill, or attempt to ameliorate relations was appalling.
The injustice, cruelty, humiliation, and shame produced by the administration of her Catholic residential school was inhumane. I received a better understanding of the generational trauma that has been inflicted on the first nations people. Sellars detailed 3 generations worth of trauma within her family at this particular residential school. Just the sheer amount of trauma Sellers' grandmother and family went through with 8/9 of her children seeing early deaths that were related to their experiences in residential school as well as the discrimination and insults that had accumulated throughout their lives.
This was not an easy read, especially since at the time of the book's writing, nothing substantial was done to address the trauma the British Columbian government had inflicted on the tribes within its realm and the total lack of remorse, goodwill, or attempt to ameliorate relations was appalling.