Background on the Residential School Attendee: Lorna Rope
Lorna
Rope is a residential school survivor, she currently lives in Regina,
Saskatchewan, but is originally from Carry the Kettle First Nations (Rope, n.d.).
She attended the St. Paul residential school for a period of time in Lebret Saskatchewan, starting in 1962 (Rope,
n.d.). Both her parents attended
residential school, and her father went to the same one Lorna Rope attended (Rope,
n.d.).
During her stay at the
residential school she experienced various forms of physical and mental abuse (Rope,
n.d.). She became rebellious during her stay, and she also became captain of
many school sport teams (Rope, n.d.). Sports were an outlet for Lorna Rope
because it was a chance for her to leave the school, due to the fact that her
parents were unable to visit her (Rope, n.d.).
The
residential school eventually let Lorna Rope officially leave during her grade
10 year (Rope, n.d.). She attempted to
attend public schools but because of family issues and her struggle to
integrate into the “normal” school system she dropped out (Rope, n.d.). She
eventually got her GED and her mother, whom has always been so loving and
supportive of Lorna Rope, advised Lorna to leave their reserve, so Lorna Rope may
continue to improve on herself such as by getting a job (Rope, n.d.).
Unfortunately,
Lorna Rope’s mother was murdered, and her siblings witnessed their mother
getting shot (Rope, n.d.). Lorna Rope had difficulties dealing with the trauma
from her mother’s death and her experience at the residential school, so she
turned to alcohol and developed an addiction.
As
Lorna Rope got older she married twice, and both times got divorces (Rope, n.d.).
Because of her trauma and loss of identity from the residential school system,
Lorna Rope struggled with relationships (Rope, n.d.).
Her
life turned around and she recently achieved her life goal of attending
university (Rope, n.d.). Lorna Rope has gone through therapy to deal with her
trauma and has graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of
Regina, and she has two daughters (Rope, n.d.).
She strives to not let her upbringing in residential schools influence
how she raises her children (Rope, n.d.). Overall, Lorna Rope is a positive person who does
not let her pass act as a barrier from succeeding.
Background of Carry the Kettle First Nations
Carry
the Kettle Nation is part of the Assiniboine, and they are aboriginal people
from the plains (Carry The Kettle Nakoda Nation, n.d., para 2). Historically
this culture was active in hunting buffalo and the fur trade (The Canadian
Encyclopedia, 2018, para 2). The
Assiniboine people split from the Nakota people in the 1600s, and their culture
is considered distinct from other cultures, such as the Cree or the Blackfoot
people (The Canadian Encyclopedia, n.d., para 3). In their historical days they
were greatly into hunting and using canines to help them carry hides (The
Canadian Encyclopedia, n.d., para 4).
They were viewed more as the gathering type, especially regarding their
vegetables and fruits (The Canadian Encyclopedia, n.d., para 4).
Their
most sacred ceremony is the Sun Dance (The Canadian Encyclopedia, n.d., para 5). This ceremony is held in the early summer,
and both men and women would honor their spiritual leader through praying,
dancing and having a feast at the end (The Canadian Encyclopedia, n.d., para 5).
This is also a time where young men would go on vision quests to get in touch
with spirits, and practice songs and prayers (The Canadian Encyclopedia, n.d.,
para 5).
In
essence, the Assiniboine people were very in touch with the land and their
spiritual leaders.
Illustration
I
chose to do an illustration to reflect the various stages of Lorna Rope’s life.
Each stage is in a circle because each stage contributes to a wholistic picture
of Lorna Rope’s identity. The first circle is about life before Lorna went to
the residential school. In the documentary she states that her and her family
were very happy and ate as a family (Rope, n.d.), so I chose to capture that
moment by drawing her family at their dinner table.
The second circle is the
largest because the residential school had an enormous impact on Lorna Rope’s
life. From her memory all Lorna Rope could remember from her first day was a
brick building (Rope, n.d.). I chose to colour the background of the second
circle black because these were gloomy abusive days for Lorna Rope.
The third circle is the
darkest circle. This is the stage were Lorna Rope’s mother was murdered. It is
also where she copes with her life trauma through alcohol.
The fourth circle is
where the colours, which represent her happiness, begin to change. A big
turning point for Lorna Rope was going to therapy to work on her healing
process. Lorna Rope the darkest figure that does not have a shape because
during her therapy days she began to figure out her own identity.
The fifth circle is of a
graduation hat and a bachelors. This is when Lorna Rope achieved her life dream
of attending and graduating university. She received a bachelor’s in social
work.
Also, the sixth circle is
the most vibrant one. Lorna Rope has achieved her life dream, gone through
therapy, and can now be the best loving mother to her two daughters.
Lastly, the
illustration’s background contains the colours blue, yellow, green, and red
these colours on the Carry the Kettle First Nation symbol. The illustration has
a kettle on it and two feathers to also reflect her ancestral roots. There are
two pieces of wheat to symbolize that she lives in the plains, more
specifically Saskatchewan. To conclude, I put Lorna Rope’s name in the middle
because this illustration ultimately reflects who she is as a person and where
she has come from.
Self-Reflection
I feel that it is an
understatement to just classify my feelings of residential schools as sad. From
researching survivor stories and learning about their life it was quite an
awakening. The story of Lorna Rope made me feel embarrassed of our past but
also proud. I am proud of how far she has come as a person. She has endured so
much pain and trauma, but that never stopped her from pursuing her dreams.
Researching
the story of a residential school survivor has made me think on the importance
of culture and human decency. Indigenous people hold their culture and family
close to them and through the process of cultural genocide Canada has stripped
people from their identities. I cannot imagine how many people who have not yet
re-discovered their identity.
In
the future I aspire to pursue a career in the Canadian Criminal Justice System.
Learning and hearing stories about residential schools and indigenous culture
can potentially impact my practice, but in a positive manner. The more
education I have on different cultures the better I feel that I can understand
individuals I may potentially be working with. Lastly, taking the steps to
understand people are part of being empathetic, which people in the justice
system need to be.
References
Addiction
Services for York Region. (2018). Trauma.
[Photograph]. Retrieved from https://www.asyr.ca/resources/understanding-addiction/trauma/
Carry
The Kettle Nakoda Nation. (n.d.). About us. Retrieved October 28, 2018, from http://cegakin.com/index.php/about/
Carry
The Kettle Nakoda Nation. (n.d.). Carry
the kettle Nakoda nation symbol. [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://cegakin.com/index.php/about/
The
Canadian Encyclopedia. (2018).
Assiniboine. Retrieved October 28, 2018, from https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/assiniboine
Google
Images. (n.d.). Buffalo Hunt.
[Photograph]. Retrieved from https://www.google.ca/search?q=indigenous+buffalo+hunt&rlz=1C1CHWA_enCA648CA648&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiNgoelu7TeAhVmHDQIHXwMCh0Q_AUIDigB&biw=1794&bih=853&dpr=0.75#imgrc=a5XhrkvW3OocBM:
Rope,
L. (Interviewee). (n.d.). Our Stories … Our Strength [Interview video file,
Interview transcript]. Retrieved from http://wherearethechildren.ca/en/stories/#story_5
Statistics
Canada. (2017). Saskatchewan. [Photograph].
Retrieved from https://www.statcan.gc.ca/eng/statistical-programs/document/SGC_CGT_4759_V1
Vancouver Aboriginal Transformative Justice Services
Society. (n.d.). Criminal justice and Aboriginal.
[Photograph]. Retrieved from http://vatjss.com/
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