My Decade At Old Sun, My Lifetime Of Hell

by Arthur Bear Chief

My Decade at Old Sun, My Lifetime of Hell is a simple and outspoken account of the sexual and psychological abuse that Arthur Bear Chief suffered during his time at Old Sun Residential school in Gleichen on the Siksika Nation. In a series of chronological vignettes, Bear Chief depicts the punishment, cruelty, abuse, and injustice that he endured at Old Sun and then later relived in the traumatic process of retelling his story at an examination for discovery in connection with a lawsuit brought against the federal government. He returned to Gleichen late in life?to the home left to him by his mother?and it was there that he began to reconnect with Blackfoot language and culture and to write his story. Although the terrific adversity Bear Chief faced in his childhood made an indelible mark on his life, his unyielding spirit is evident throughout his story.

Genres: Nonfiction, Indigenous, Memoir, Canada, Biography

180 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2017

Reviews

[George Ilsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The horror of the residential school system is something which, until recently, was not much talked about (even by the survivors). This is a story by a survivor, and when read one must remember that many more young people did not survive the ordeal. They died by the hundreds, at the schools, or trying to escape, and are buried in unmarked graves. Many were so damaged they could not cope with their pain and found an escape.

With Bear Chief's moving memoir, we have a story of someone who did survive and still lives with the pain. The story is saturated with "what if's". What if this had never happened, what might be life have been like?

Somehow, the story of this horrible system is still not widely known, but in the year 2021 with the discovery of thousands of graves, thousands of children who perished from cruelty, many more people finally became aware of this tragedy.

[Simone Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's very brave of Arthur Bear Chief to tell his story. So shameful that he and thousands of others had to go through such a terrible experience I don't know how something like residential schools can ever be made right, no amount of apologies can make up for the lives destroyed and much love to all of those affected.

[Marc-Antoine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story that needed to be told, needs to be heard, but above all we need to learn from. "As any story should, it will live and grow - and in that there is hope of reconciliation." Frits Pannekoek

[Dalia El-Athamna · Rating 5 out of 5]

very sad and disturbing

[Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fuck Canada.... I can't believe that this happened in my country. I am ashamed of every single thing that my people did to the First Nations and what they still are doing to them. They deserve justice

[Kathleen Moors · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will follow up with Blog post later Monday, February 13.

https://shepaintsred.com/2017/02/16/m...

[Eel Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an autobiography of Arthur Bear Chief. It goes through his traumatic and horrific experiences at Old Sun residential school. After residential school, he talks about how everything he did was effected by that trauma including relationships, work, and life in general. In adulthood, he makes his claim to the court for the abuse he received, he describes how its all a cash grab for everyone but himself. The government suggested counselling,(He had to pay for just reduced)this helped him with his trauma on the surface but deep inside it was still there. As a white person, I learned that being an indigenous person is hard, and the government should actually help individuals rather than slip them some money and apologize for years of trauma. I really liked how the book was written, it sounded like someone talking to me, not like a perfectly written analysis. The information in this book can help teach white people to respect all indigenous people. I recommend this book to white people as a whole so that they can somewhat understand and then fight for indigenous sovereignty.

[Kat Hill]

The author’s voice came through so powerfully in this book for a moving recount of the horrors of the residential school system for a moving autobiography. Hearing not only the traumatic stories of abuse from Old Sun but also the start of indigenous legal action towards reparations and reconciliation in the 90s was incredibly eyeopening. An emotional read for sure.

I also appreciated the more lighter parts of Arthur’s story as well of his adult life moving from job to job (especially with the youth at Shingwauk Hall and in Fort Smith) and stories like the Siksika elders forcing him to re-learn the Blackfoot language by barging into his office and his Vegas wedding to Marie. These parts really showed Arthur’s sense of humor and made him feel more human than some other similar memoirs.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a first hand report from the residential schools, the decades of institutionalized abuses, state and church sponsored crimes against the native people and the Metis.

Although the book isn't all written by the author, one can sense the scars inflicted in him by the years spent there as a child. The stories are short and to the point, the damage is done. And the resident is left mending his inner balance.

[Sandra Kachuik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking

This is a very simple read but the content is heart breaking. These schools ruined an entire generation which affected future ones. These people deserve more than just a pay out.

[Kilgallen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A candid and disturbing memoire of a residential school survivor. This brave, first hand account really drives home the scope of impact that the abuses suffered by survivors has had on individuals as well as the Indigenous People.

[Darryl Diamond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Art's sharing of his life lessons and hardships are poised in his truth
Art's words come from when sharing before Canada's Truth & Reconciliation Commission
Art's lifetime is very hurt
I'll be reading this again in the future

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this is a short book, it was a really powerful read. It’s a devastating first-hand account of the abuse that Arthur Bear Chief experienced at residential school, and how this affected him later on in life. An important read.

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eye opening.

[Dallas Boutet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it.

[Chandra Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spending time on the truth of truth & reconciliation.

[Augustine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative, shows how trauma can shape a person.