residential schools
What was the name of the residential school Bev Sellars attended?
St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School
What was the purpose of residential schools in Canada?
To assimilate Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian culture.
What Indigenous nation is BevSellars from?
Xat'sull (Soda Creek) First Nation
What is a major theme of They Called Me Number One?
Resilience and survival
What emotions did the author experience during her stay at Sardis Hospital?
The author felt profound loneliness, sadness from being away from her family
What number was Bev assigned at the school?
Number one
What is the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)?
A commission that documented residential school experiences and created recommendations for healing.
What role did Sellars later hold in her community?
Chief of the Xat'sull First Nation
How does the book show the effects of intergenerational trauma?
By detailing how trauma from residential schools affected families for generations
How did Miss Costello impact the author's life?
Miss Costello's kindness and genuine care provided the author with a sense of comfort and safety during a challenging time
What was one of the main punishments students received for speaking their Indigenous language?
They were beaten or humiliated.
What is one of the TRC’s Calls to Action regarding education?
Including Indigenous history and residential schools in school curriculums.
How did residential school impact her life later?
It caused emotional struggles, trust issues etc
What is one way Bev Sellars overcame her trauma?
Through reconnecting with her culture and speaking out
What did the author learn about herself and her feelings during her time at the hospital
The author learned to feel ashamed of her mistakes
What was one way the school tried to erase Indigenous culture?
Forcing students to speak english and separating them from their relatives
How does Bev Sellars contribute to truth and reconciliation?
By sharing her story and advocating for Indigenous rights.
What was a major reason Bev decided to write this book?
To share the truth about residential school and promote healing
What does the book say about healing and reconciliation?
It emphasizes truth, acknowledgment, and cultural revival
Why was the author's return home significant, and how did it shape her feelings?
Returning home after twenty months at Sardis was significant because it marked a reconnection with family
How did the school justify the mistreatment of Indigenous children?
They claimed they were “civilizing” them and preparing them for assimilation.
What is one government policy that contributed to the creation of residential schools?
The Indian Act
What year was Bev Sellars born?
She was born in 1955
How does Sellars critique the government's role in residential schools?
By highlighting the systemic abuse and cultural genocide
How did small humiliations at Sardis affect the author's self-esteem?
Humiliations, like being laughed at for only knowing the color blue or being scolded by her teacher, compounded her feelings of shame and inadequacy, which have haunted her throughout her life.