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A review by jocepatey
They Called Me Number One: Secrets and Survival at an Indian Residential School by Bev Sellars
4.0
They Called Me Number One is Bev Sellar's honest and heart wrenching account of growing up on a First Nations Reserve and at the St. Joseph's Mission school. I whole heartedly agree that this book should be required reading in Canada; and it is atrocious what has happened to the First Nations people.
Reading this story, Bev's trauma and hurt read between the lines of her words. There was a flow that was missing that left the writing a little bit more factual than emotional, but when considering the atrocities she is describing, it is easy to get past. She succinctly describes the abuse that she remembers against herself, and her family members; and does her best to describe the aftermath and constant alcohol and drug dependence as well as the suicides that plague First Nations people. The fact that paramedics, hospital officials, police officers turn blind eyes to these people and their needs was astonishing.
By the second half of the book, as Bev describes the work she has done to heal her pain and overcome the various abuses she has suffered, she emerges as a wonderful writer. At this point, I felt the pain of recalling the issues in the first few chapters were what led the writing. Bev has accomplished so much and is incredibly inspiring.
The reality is this is a part of Canadian history that is kept secret; and it shouldn't be. I was astonished to read that majority of First Nations peoples do not speak their native language! I hope that through education and an end to systemic racism we can begin to support, truly, the different cultures that call Canada home.
Reading this story, Bev's trauma and hurt read between the lines of her words. There was a flow that was missing that left the writing a little bit more factual than emotional, but when considering the atrocities she is describing, it is easy to get past. She succinctly describes the abuse that she remembers against herself, and her family members; and does her best to describe the aftermath and constant alcohol and drug dependence as well as the suicides that plague First Nations people. The fact that paramedics, hospital officials, police officers turn blind eyes to these people and their needs was astonishing.
By the second half of the book, as Bev describes the work she has done to heal her pain and overcome the various abuses she has suffered, she emerges as a wonderful writer. At this point, I felt the pain of recalling the issues in the first few chapters were what led the writing. Bev has accomplished so much and is incredibly inspiring.
The reality is this is a part of Canadian history that is kept secret; and it shouldn't be. I was astonished to read that majority of First Nations peoples do not speak their native language! I hope that through education and an end to systemic racism we can begin to support, truly, the different cultures that call Canada home.