Ernest Barry Yellow Fly- Rappelled Down the Window

Hello I am Niimistostima, my white name is Ernest Barry Yellow Fly. I am going to tell a story of those that went to residential school, of what happened. I am going to tell the story of those who snuck out. I am first going to say is that we were abused, when we went to residential school. I am going to talk about the junior boy’s dorm, I am going to say it in English. How we were treated so badly some wanted to sneak out and ok this… it was night, late afternoon. These boys were saying they were going to sneak out, they were lonely, some of them wanted to go home. There they were, they started tying blankets together, then they rappelled down the window. Then they each rappelled down. They got caught, this teacher saw them, he worked at night. Then they ran away. They were brought back one by one, I don’t know if they got strapped. The reason I told this story is because it was not very good when we went to school. There was a lot that wanted to go home or sneak away. They got into trouble if they snuck away. So, this is one story I talked about.

Okay, here is another one, we weren’t fed properly when we went to school, the same, junior boy’s dorm. Some used to sneak out, they snuck to the kitchen. They scrounged around for food stuff, they would come back upstairs and feed each of us, that’s how we got treated bad they wouldn’t feed us properly but the teachers and workers, they ate good. We all saw how they ate. For us, our food was meager. So that’s why some went to get stuff to eat. They got stuff from the kitchen and came back upstairs; they would ration out the food to us. Another one, this is where I end my story.

–Niimistostima, Ernest Barry Yellow Fly

Notes:

Oral interview with Niimistostima, Ernest Barry Yellow Fly. Conducted, translated, and transcribed by Gwendora Bear Chief. Old Sun Community College, June 1, 2022.

Featured Image: The new Blackfoot school from the rear. – [193-?]. M55-01-P52 from The General Synod Archives, Anglican Church of Canada.