I Remember: Memories from Lejac Residential School

I remember that fear kept boys and girls broken, with tangled spirits, silenced for years. In 1965, at the tender age of four, Marian Duncan was taken to Lejac residential school. She arrived wearing the new blue dress and velvet shoes her grandmother had bought for her that very day. Within the first minutes of her arrival, the clothes were taken, her hair was cut short and her unforgettable, unforgivable experience of residential school life began. The next nine years of her life were to be filled with longing for her parents and grandparents, learning to endure endless harsh punishments, sneaking moments and hugs with older siblings, creating supportive friendships and an attempted escape. Marian continues to heal and brings a forgiving, loving approach to life. She sends love and good wishes to all she encounters, despite the lasting impacts of her residential school experiences. We hope readers of Marian's story develop a deeper sense of empathy and respect for Indigenous people in this country. We hope they see strength in Marian and others in similar circumstances. We know readers will feel great sorrow for the children and families impacted by residential schools, and we hope they feel admiration for the way many are overcoming their past trauma and leading lives that are making a better future for the next generations.

About the Author :
Marian Duncan is from Binche Whut'en, which is on the shores of Stuart Lake in what is now known as Northern British Columbia. She is a residential school Survivor, a mother of five children, and grandmother to many grandchildren. She has worked in daycares, schools, and a lower mainland twenty-four-hour crisis home supporting Indigenous children. Marian has also worked as a camp cook in the mountains north of Fort St. James and has worked in a sawmill. She is a traditional woman who loves hunting, fishing, berry-picking, beading, and other cultural traditions. Marian is currently spending her time enjoying her life in Binche, supporting her big family, and writing a book or two.