Siksika woman speaks at sharing circle at TRC event

Leanne (Crowchief) Sleigh offered her moccasins “for all those people who walked the path before us” after she shared her experience of attending Indian day school.
“Today I stand healed from the many hurts,” she said. But it’s been a long spiritual journey of accepting and trying to forgive both her parents and others in her community. It’s a journey that many survivors still haven’t embarked on and some talked about looking for their abusers on the street, wanting to exact justice.
Sleigh is the third generation in her family to attend Indian day school. Sleigh’s grandmother was the first to go. Sleigh’s mother attended up to grade nine and her father ran away from school.

Sleigh, from the Siksika First Nation, was one of 15 survivors invited to attend a special sharing circle June 16 on the first day of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s inaugural event. Participating in the circle were TRC chair Justice Murray Sinclair and commissioners Chief Wilton Littlechild, of the Ermineskin First Nation, and Marie Wilson. Over the course of the four days, at least one commissioner was in attendance at every sharing circle.

Sleigh broke down as she told her story. She was comforted by a health support volunteer, with a hand on her shoulder and Kleenex. Her recount brought tears to the eyes of others.

Sleigh told of how she raised her brothers and sisters, two of whom died under her care, that she was sexually abused by a student, and physically abused by her parents almost on a daily basis because of what they had learned at school. Her family suffered through alcoholism and separation, through loss of culture and loss of language.

“I was faced with alcoholism myself, drug addiction, and teenage pregnancy. I abused my body, I couldn’t care for myself because I was raised without respect, without love, without hugs, without ever hearing the words, ‘I love you,’” Sleigh said.

Sleigh credits her Catholic faith and a return to her culture (she is now a bundle holder) for giving her strength. Today she is a resolution health support worker in her community.

“It wasn’t until I met our Creator . . . that I had my first experience . . . where I found that He loved me unconditionally. It was hard to believe. I thought you had to pay for love,” she said.

Sleigh’s slide into self-abuse and abuse outside of school was shared by many survivors. Many also spoke about not having anyone to turn to for help. For many, it took decades to finally speak about their abuse. Another common experience was the rage and hatred that filled survivors once they left school, their inability to connect with the parents they had left behind, and the inability to parent their own children.

Over 40,000 people attended the four-day event. The next national event is planned for June 2011 in Inuvik, NWT. There will be seven national events hosted by the TRC over a five-year period. One event will take place in Alberta.