Residential school survivor remembers hunger that never went away

Emma Shorty still remembers her days at the Chooutla residential school and more specifically, the hunger that went along with it.

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3 thoughts on “Residential school survivor remembers hunger that never went away

  1. My mother and my husband went to the Indian Residential School. Growing up, we were not allowed to throw any food on our plate away. My husband has difficulty with how he shops and buys in large quantities. He thinks he has to eat everything he puts on his plate. We both have Type II diabetes. Ian Mosby may also want to do research on how the white foods have become comfort foods to the Indigenous people and also focus on the psychological factors. White sugar, white salt, white flour, white lard are in the foods that have become comfort foods. Bannock has all four ingredients. Now we are also dealing with psychological dependence and addiction to these substances. To deal with the obesity, diabetes and other diseases, one has to have programs to address the traumas and re-program the DNA. Another factor is low economic rates. It is cheaper to feed your family with Kraft Dinner and noodles. It is alarming to hear that children are being diagnosed with Type II diabetes.

  2. I watched the program APTN put on, about Choutla. Many similarities between their school and ours: St. Joseph’ Mission. Our school was located about 12 miles from Williams Lake, B.C. I think even the school building was almost the same. I watched that video about 50 times or so. Very interesting! One thing that got me was that some of the students went to Choutla but never ever saw their homes again. They either died, or their village moved. I’m sharing this with my group on Facebook: SJM Reunion Online

  3. Kim Oseira
    I am a survivor of Boarding School in Alaska. The catholic nuns and the priests and the brothers were always very well fed but us kids went hungry. I would bend over holding my stomach I was so hungry…

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