Jaylin Kim

Ms. Melnick
January 25th. 2017
ENG 4U1
Interview: Indian Horse
Saul Indian Horse
Interviewer: Hello Mr. Indian Horse.
Saul: Hello.
Question 1: How are you today?
Answer: Im doing great. Thank you for inviting me.
Interviewer: Thank you so much for agreeing to do this interview.
Question 2: Can you introduce yourself?
Answer: My name is Saul Indian horse and I am a residential school survivor.
Question 3: What was the name of the residential school you went to? What
did it look like?
Answer: It was called St. Jeromes Indian Residential School. The school was a
four-storey red brick building with a cupola bearing a tall white cross. There
were only ground shrubs and no trees.
Question 4: What did they make you do when you first came to the school?
Answer: The priest ordered me to take off my clothes and go into a tub of
scalding water. He threw delousing powder over me and then scrubbed me
with a stiff-bristled brush. It hurt and I felt like my skin was going to fall off.
They watched me as I put on these stiff clothes that scratched me. It was
uncomfortable being watched. After that, they shaved my long hair off, I
distinctly remember a boy next to me who was crying while he was getting
his head shaved. That was my first day at the residential school.
Question 5: How were the kids treated at the residential school?
Answer: The short answer is horribly. The students there including myself
suffered from neglect, physical and psychological abuse. There were many
cruel punishments and mistreatments forced upon us. I remember a girl
named Sheila Jack who was a student at the residential school just like me.
All the kids at school were in awe of her because she was so composed,
assured and peaceful. However, the nuns did not like the fact that she
inspired other children. They made her read meaningless text every day and
she soon lost her composure and grace. Shed walk the halls of St. Germs
muttering incomprehensible phrases and then burst out into a wild laugh,
hitting herself in the face. In the end, people took her away to the crazy
house. Poor girl. All that pressure and stress made her crazy.
Question 6: How were the kids physically abused?

Answer: There were so many ways these people tortured us. We were
forbidden to speak Ojibway and if we were caught speaking that language
we would get beaten or banished into the box in the basement. Curtis White
fox got caught speaking Ojibway so they washed his mouth out with lye
soap. He choked on it and died right on the spot. He was only ten. Many kids
couldnt stand the abuse and ended up killing themselves. Some kids tried to
escape but they would get caught and get sent back to the school where
they received even harsher punishments.
Question 7: Can you describe how you felt living at the residential school?
Answer: I felt so isolated. I didnt belong to any group because I was neither
truly aboriginal nor part of the dominant society. I was called Zhaunagush
because of my ability to read and speak English. I struggled to fit in because
of the discrimination from both societies.
Question 8: How has the residential school affected your life so far?
Answer: Like many kids from residential schools, Ive faced emotional
trauma. Ive witnessed the loss of mental, emotional, physical and spiritual
well-being at that place. I cant erase that from my memories. Your
innocence will be stripped away from you and your identity will be stolen
away from you. Ive never felt so worthless and traumatized. There are kids
who get sexually abused by the priests at that place. Unfortunately, I was
one of the victims. I didnt know at that time but when the realization hit me
I was mortified, a feeling of outrage consumed me. Thats what ultimately
lead to my alcoholism. I was so addicted but my new escape sustained me
for a while. These mental scars are hard to erase.
Question 9: How have the residential schools affected Indigenous culture?
Answer: Indigenous cultures are abandoned because of the schools
engagement in cultural genocide. My mother also went to a residential
school and I remember her always telling me that Christianity is the better
culture to follow. She told me that the Aboriginal cultures are fake. When my
brother passed away she wanted to take him to the priest so that he can be
returned to the bosom of Christ. I could never understand how the god they
proclaimed was watching over us could turn his head away and ignore such
cruelty and suffering. My family was brainwashed and the residential school
forced us to abandon our Indigenous culture.
Interviewer: On June 11, 2008, the Prime Minister, on behalf of the
Government of Canada, delivered a formal apology in the House of Commons
to former students, families, and communities for Canadas role in the
operation of the residential schools.
Question 11: What is your opinion on that?
Answer: Im glad that step was taken because its important to learn from
your past mistakes and prevent it from happening again in the future. Thats

how well develop as a country. However, I also believe that even with the
apology from the Prime Minister, residential schools will continue to impact a
large number of people. That is why we need to take action.
Question 12: What kind of action?
Answer: I am directing the legacy of Hope Foundation in order to promote
awareness and understanding of the legacy of residential schools. Our goal is
to help heal survivors, their families, and communities and work towards
promoting reconciliation in Canada.
Interview: Thats amazing Mr. Indian Horse. I also hope to work for the better
future of all people. Thank you, Mr. Indian Horse. Im very grateful that you
shared your personal experiences living in a residential school.
Saul: No problem, Its by sharing these truths that we can all continue to
work towards understanding and healing.
References
Wagamese, Richard. Indian Horse: A Novel. Vancouver, BC: Douglas &
McIntyre, 2012. Print.