Family and Background
What Indigenous Nation is Bev Sellars from?
Xat’sull (Soda Creek) First Nation
What was the name of the residential school Bev Sellars attended?
St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School
What did Bev become after finishing her education?
A chief and later a writer
Where was St. Joseph’s Mission located?
Near Williams Lake, British Columbia
What family member did Bev describe as a strong role model in her life?
Her grandmother
How many generations of Bev’s family attended residential school?
Three generations
What item did Bev lose that caused her to be punished with a strap?
A toothbrush
What problem did Bev face in her adult life as a result of her childhood trauma?
Depression and substance abuse
How often were students allowed to see their families while at school?
Only during holidays and during summer.
What was the name of Bev’s daughter?
Angie
What type of work did Bev's grandmother do?
(What did she work as from time to time?)
She worked as a cleaner and domestic worker
What did the nuns do to Bev when she laughed after wetting the bed?
They forced her to stand in front of the class with the wet sheet over her head to humiliate her.
What is the name of the university Bev attended as a mature student?
University of Victoria
What did students often do during free time at the school?
Perform chores or labor, like cleaning and laundry
Who was Bev’s supportive teacher who encouraged her to pursue education?
Alan Haig-Brown
What tragic event did Bev's mother experience as a child?
She witnessed her brother being beaten to death by a priest
What was the reason children’s hair was cut short when they arrived at St. Joseph’s Mission?
Their hair was cut short immediately upon arrival as part of the assimilation process.
What was Bev’s job in her community after she returned from university?
She became Chief of the Xat’sull First Nation
What happened to the building(The residential school) after the school closed down?
It was burned down by members of the community
Who did Bev dream about, which helped her deal with past trauma?
Her Uncle Johnny
What did Bev’s grandfather do to try and protect his children from residential school?
He hid them in the bush
What happened to students who got sick at the school?
They were often neglected, isolated, or punished instead of being cared for properly
What project did Bev work on to help her community heal from residential school trauma?
She supported healing circles and community education around the effects of residential schools.
What was a common punishment given to students at the mission?
Being strapped or physically beaten
What role did Bev Sellars’ grandfather play in preserving cultural knowledge, and how did he influence Bev’s understanding of Indigenous identity?
oral histories, traditional knowledge, and stories