Allan Stevens- It Was Bad What they Call Residential School
Yes, it was bad what they call residential school. Then as time went on, weekends Fridays we went home, Friday afternoon, 4 o’clock. We had to back in school the next day, Saturday, before supper. If we are late for supper, the following weekend we don’t go home. We were held back at the school. That’s how bad residential school was. They strapped us if we don’t obey the supervisors. I was strapped 5 times on my hands. They hurt, the strappings. Then as time went on, I stayed long at residential school. About when I was 15 years old, they kicked me out from Old Sun School. They kicked me out. I was always acting bad; I was always sneaking home. I guess they couldn’t control me over there. Well, they kicked me out, when I was the age of 15 years old. Then as time past, well I had to work when I was no longer in school. Then when we go to bed its still daylight when we go to bed in the summer, 7 o’clock, it’s still daylight. We were awakened early in the morning, 6 o’clock in the morning. Then we all go downstairs, we clean up, then we go eat at about 7:30. All they fed us, back in the past at school, was porridge. It was all so lumpy, lumps, some don’t eat it. Yeah, it was bad what they call residential school. I stayed there long.
– Allan Stevens
Notes:
Oral interview with Allan Stevens. Conducted, translated, and transcribed by Gwendora Bear Chief. Old Sun Community College, March 23, 2022.
