Bev’s family
Why did Michel convince Evelyn Sellars (Bev's mom) to take the blame for the murder?
Because, for him, since she is a woman, authorities would give her a lighter sentence.
Why didn't Gram resist when the priests would take the children to the Mission?
She knew that if she didn't let them go, she would simply go to jail. ch3
Why did Bev stay in the hospital for twenty months?
Because she had tuberculosis.
Why Bev drop out of school when she was sixteen?
She dropped out because she couldnt become a nurse anymore, which was her dream.
What was Bev about the police?
She was told that she couldn't trust them and that they were the last people she should call for help. ch12
Why did Gram despise alcohol?
She hated alcohol because of what it did to her loved ones. She said that it caused destruction to them. This is why she did not allow alcohol in her house. ch1
Why were their personal effects confiscated at the beginning of the year?
They took their personal belongings because they did not want them to be linked to their origin/family.
Why did Bev grow up with her Gram?
Bev grew up with her Gram because her mom and her husband got arrested for murder, and went to prison. She left her at Deep Creek with her mom.
Who was Bev's first husband?
Her first husband was Dayton Mack.
What was considered the first insult to Bev's side on the inquiry?
Everyone was asked to and had to present themselves, except for the Aboriginals who were present. The Whites made it clear that they thought they were superior.
Why was Bev's brother Ray's nickname Ray Boone?
He was nicknamed after David Boone, the ultimate outdoorsman. Indeed, Ray was always outside, and would stay there for hours.
Why did Bev feel like she was inferior to White people?
The only message that she got from the people at the Mission was that Aboriginals were inferior to White people. Even her family believed the same thing.
Why did Bev like Miss Costello so much?
Bev really like Miss Costelo because she was really kind to her. She was a comfort to her and Bev could latch on her if she needed someone. Miss Costello genuinely cared about her.
Who is Alan and what did he want from Bev?
He was a worked at wht Wildwood Elementary School. He wanted Bev to work as a teacher's aid, to help the with the Aboriginal Students.
How did the white lawyers treat Bev and the rest of her team?
They treated them as children who couldn't fend for themselves. ch13
What was one of the only thing that made Xp'e7e angry?
One of the only things that made him angry was when the White Authorities would take their land and fence them. He knew he could not do anything about it, and that made him really mad.
Were the parents able to visit their kids at the residential school? Were they able to speak freely?
The family was able to visit but only rarely. When they visited, the meeting with their kids was supervised by a priest or a nun. They would usually sit between the parents and the kids to supervise their conversation so they did not feel like they were able to speak freely like they did at home.
Who is London?
London was a man who paid Xp'e7e to take him hunting every year. He would give 5 dollars to Bev to feed the horses and would give clothing to Gram.
Why did Bev attemp suicide?
She attempted when she was still in Sugar Cane, because someone told her about Dayton's affair, even though she already knew that, but this took her over the edge. She decided she did not want to be alive anymore and swallowed some pills and went to sleep.
She learned to think critically and question everthing, like the religion. She was too conformed at the Mission, but the philosophy courses allowed her to see things differently and to rethink her decisions.
How did Marguerite die?
She died of smallpox after trying to cure others who had the deadly disease. Even though others her family told her to stay away from the sick people, she wasn't able to do so. She wanted to help them the best she could.
Who is Pat Joyce (the new cook) and why was he considered a hero by the kids?
He was considered a hero because he refused to follow the separate meal policy and give rotten food to the kids.
Why did Bev not learn her grandmother's native language?
Because, when she was young, her grandmother would get whipped if she spoke her native language, so she stopped speaking it entirely. The nuns would also ridiculise them for speaking it, and she, like many others, became ashamed of being able to. Gram did not want Bev or the other children to suffer like she did, so she didnt teach it to them.
How did Bev's car accident affect her life?
Firstly, after the car accident, she was charged with driving too fast for road conditions. Secondly, it cost her uncle Johnny's life. Thirdly, she was traumatised from the crash and had nightmares for years. Fourtly, she had to live a long time with grief, pain, and mainl guilt, because for her, she was the one who killed Johnny.
What is Bev's opinion on her "need to forgive"?
She thinks that it is not up to anyone to decide anything for her. She thinks forgiveness is an easy way out for the prepetrators to not be accountable for their actions. She is against that "need to forgive".