Residential Residential

JOSEPH GERMAINE MERCREDI 22
Note: Joe passed away February 23, 2007. The
interview was done with his wife Amy, who published
Joe’s stories that he had written in a book
called Adverntures of a Young Métis Boy.
WHERE DID HE GROW UP?
He was born in Fon du Lac, Saskatchewan and
raised in Fort Fitzgerald, AB and Fort Smith, NT.
WHAT WAS LIFE LIKE BEFORE HE WENT TO SCHOOL?
He was one of 17 children. He was in the middle
of the group. When it came time to go to school,
his Dad, who was a trapper, asked the bishop if
he would take some of his children to residential
school because there were too many to look
after.
WHAT SCHOOL DID HE ATTEND?
Joe went to school in Fort Resolution Mission
School for three years and finished his high
school in Fort Smith, NT.
HOW OLD WAS HE WHEN HE WENT TO SCHOOL?
He went for three years, from age 12-14
WHAT MEMORIES DID HE SHARE WITH YOU?
He talked a lot about residential school being an
adventure. He was excited to go because he got
to meet new friends and new people. He got to
go out on the land with the brothers and nuns.
He learned how to work in the garden and he
made quite a few friends. He talked about the
physical ability of the brothers and all the games
they played and of the kindness of the nuns who
did their best to make the school feel like home.
selecting a wooden airplane. He couldn’t wait
for Christmas Day. They also selected one gift
to share with a friend. He guessed the mission
must have received a bargain because it seemed
that every second boy received one of those
airplanes. As the days grew closer to Christmas
some children were missing home as it was
their first time away. It was an important time
of year in his home, lots of visiting and people
coming in off the trap lines. He talked about how
the sisters made every effort to make it feel
like home and that they knew these boys and
girls were born and raised in the bush so it was
on them to be away. He also described how,
through the sisters teachings, they got understand
the meaning of Christmas as we know it
today. Practicing for the pageant was fun and it
took their mind off missing their families. The
songs were sung in four languages including
French, English, Latin and Chipewyan.
IF HE COULD GIVE STUDENTS TODAY ONE TAKE
HOME MESSAGE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
He often talked about how education is so
important and if it wasn’t for the mission schools
many of his friends and he would not have been
able to make it in the world today. His father
said, “we can’t all be trappers, there were so
many of us, some of you have to go and get an
education.”
He talked about how the three weeks leading up
to Christmas were very busy. There were plays
to be rehearsed and mass to get ready for. He
talked about how the choir was so good that he
would swear they were born angels. The whole
town would come to listen. The night before
Christmas they would be marched into the hall,
they would select presents and their names
would be marked on them. He recalled
22
Our Stories … Our Strength. Legacy of Hope Foundation. 2006. DVD.
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