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thoughtsonplots 's review for:
Calling My Spirit Back
by Elaine Alec
“Everything we are lives in our language. When our language was taken away in the residential schools, our people lost the connection to who we were.”
I know a lot of settlers, like me, are trying to educate ourselves about the lived experiences of Indigenous peoples and the effects of colonialism on all aspects of society and the land we live on. If you want to understand the intergenerational trauma of residential schools and colonial systems on Indigenous communities and individuals, this book is an essential read.
Elaine Alec is an author, political advisor, women’s advocate and spiritual thought leader She is Syilx and Secwepemc from British Columbia and is the direct descendant of hereditary chiefs.
Her memoir is strikingly vulnerable, raw and honest. By sharing her story, she is undoubtedly helping so many people talk about their own pain and challenges. There can be no healing or reconciliation without truth – Alec is a brave truth-teller. She shares the tools she utilized to work through the challenges in her life and imparts the teachings and knowledge of her ancestors.
I loved reading about the prophecies and teachings of the elders, language speakers, medicine people and helpers in her community. Knowing that so much language, custom and knowledge was destroyed by not allowing Indigenous parents and communities to raise their own children is devastating. Alec powerfully articulates the legacy of residential schools:
“Residential schools taught many of our people that we are inferior. It taught us how to obey and listen. It taught us that we were worthless and no one wanted us and that everything about us was wrong.”
“I think many mainstream Canadians don’t understand that we as Indigenous peoples have lifelong experiences of trauma and pain that we have to work through on a day-to-day basis. There is no understanding that we lack the privilege of not having experiences of trauma and racism.”
I thank Alec for sharing her story with the world.
CW: intergenerational trauma, residential schools, physical abuse, sexual assault, racism, chronic illness, substance abuse
I know a lot of settlers, like me, are trying to educate ourselves about the lived experiences of Indigenous peoples and the effects of colonialism on all aspects of society and the land we live on. If you want to understand the intergenerational trauma of residential schools and colonial systems on Indigenous communities and individuals, this book is an essential read.
Elaine Alec is an author, political advisor, women’s advocate and spiritual thought leader She is Syilx and Secwepemc from British Columbia and is the direct descendant of hereditary chiefs.
Her memoir is strikingly vulnerable, raw and honest. By sharing her story, she is undoubtedly helping so many people talk about their own pain and challenges. There can be no healing or reconciliation without truth – Alec is a brave truth-teller. She shares the tools she utilized to work through the challenges in her life and imparts the teachings and knowledge of her ancestors.
I loved reading about the prophecies and teachings of the elders, language speakers, medicine people and helpers in her community. Knowing that so much language, custom and knowledge was destroyed by not allowing Indigenous parents and communities to raise their own children is devastating. Alec powerfully articulates the legacy of residential schools:
“Residential schools taught many of our people that we are inferior. It taught us how to obey and listen. It taught us that we were worthless and no one wanted us and that everything about us was wrong.”
“I think many mainstream Canadians don’t understand that we as Indigenous peoples have lifelong experiences of trauma and pain that we have to work through on a day-to-day basis. There is no understanding that we lack the privilege of not having experiences of trauma and racism.”
I thank Alec for sharing her story with the world.
CW: intergenerational trauma, residential schools, physical abuse, sexual assault, racism, chronic illness, substance abuse