Broken Circle: The Dark Legacy of Indian Residential Schools

by Theodore Fontaine

Theodore (Ted) Fontaine lost his family and freedom just after his seventh birthday, when his parents were forced to leave him at an Indian residential school by order of the Roman Catholic Church and the Government of Canada. Twelve years later, he left school frozen at the emotional age of seven. He was confused, angry and conflicted, on a path of self-destruction. At age 29, he emerged from this blackness. By age 32, he had graduated from the Civil Engineering Program at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and begun a journey of self-exploration and healing.



In this powerful and poignant memoir, Ted examines the impact of his psychological, emotional and sexual abuse, the loss of his language and culture, and, most important, the loss of his family and community. He goes beyond details of the abuses of Native children to relate a unique understanding of why most residential school survivors have post-traumatic stress disorders and why succeeding generations of First Nations children suffer from this dark chapter in history.



Told as remembrances described with insights that have evolved through his healing, his story resonates with his resolve to help himself and other residential school survivors and to share his enduring belief that one can pick up the shattered pieces and use them for good.

Genres: Nonfiction, Indigenous, Memoir, History, Canada, Race, Historical

190 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Larissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe this book should be required reading for every high school student in Canada. And if there was a way to mandate it, every citizen in Canada.

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful memoir! A must read!

As a young indigenous person required to attend residential school, and having been subject to many of the atrocities there, this author was eventually able to work through his issues and “bypass the hurdles created by residential school” (his words not mine).

This author is very open with his feelings of abandonment by and anger towards his parents, not realizing as a young person that this system was forced upon them. He acknowledges his support systems , being friends, relatives, other family members, and later work colleagues, bands, and an assortment of acquaintances who helped him gain the confidence and comfort he needed to overcome and resolve the issue of being a residential school survivor.

He actually credits much of his success to the values instilled by his family when he was young. In addition he worked very diligently at improving himself, getting an education, and building his skills and confidence. While it was not without its challenges, as he was often discriminated against, with training and experience his skills grew, followed by his confidence.
This took a long time and many short term jobs and much stress. But he did come out on top and held responsible, and respected jobs and positions including head of an exploration crew for a mining company, regional coordinator of the federal Indian summer employment program in Edmonton, regional land administrator for Indian lands in NWT, and eventually chief of his band during which he established the first senior citizens home on an Indian reserve in Canada. He next became the executive director of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, then negotiator of national employment equity agreements, and even an advisor on residential school issues. All of this contributed to his healing journey to bring him to a place of confidence, comfort and peace.

Interestingly, he notes “most survivors have travelled similar roads.”

He is quick to acknowledge that writing about his trials and tribulations during the early days as a young adult awash in alcohol to cope helped him to sort out his feelings. That and counselling, and therapeutic conversations with other survivors paved the way for a healing journey. He, as well as many of his cousins relearned the Ojibway language and often relied on it in conversations.

Through this journey the author was able to experience the process and power of forgiveness.

He is very clear that the gifts of family strength, trust and love, the values and teachings learned before he was sent away to residential school were the what eventually sustained him during the most difficult times of his journey. “Healing is not easy and it never ends” — he notes.

The author’s honesty and candor about his experience and life make this a valuable learning tool for those of us who only read about the enormity of suffering of the indigenous children who attended the residential schools and it’s lingering effects, and what a sad part of history was created at the expense of the innocents.

[Pooker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book in one sitting and appreciated the motivation, courage and effort involved in the writing of it. It added to my understanding of what happened to the people forced into the residential school system and the effects on them and their families and culture. Particularly interesting to me was the author's insights into how residential school survivors became victims of "Stockholm Syndrome" (before that term was coined) - how they saw their "keepers" as saviours and blamed their parents for abandoning them and themselves as worthy of abandonment.

I do share Mr. Fontaine's view of apologies and had the same thoughts as he when Stephen Harper delivered the apology on behalf of Canada on June 11, 2008 - that an apology makes the apologizer feel better and frees them from the burden of their guilt at wrongdoing; it does not make the person to whom the apology is owed feel better. But, at least, the apology validates the fact that the apology is owed.

I got the sense that the writing of this book was not something instrumental in the author's own healing process; but that he had written it to give others validation of their own experiences, knowledge that they are not alone and, hopefully, the courage to persevere.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book, I knew little about the native American experience in the U.S. and absolutely nothing about the First Nations experience in Canada.

I'm really glad to have read this book and gained knowledge about what life was like growing up in residential schools for Ojibwe people. I didn't realize that some students grew up in residential schools literally down the road from their families. Nor did I know that families (that lived close by, at least), could visit their children every Sunday and children would return home all summer long. I found out that families could claim hardship and their child's required attendance at these schools would be waived.

I was prepared for a hard hitting memoir along the lines of The Glass Castle or Educated but that's not how this story was told. I got this impression that this story was written as part of the author's healing process, as much as it was written to inform. This story told snippets of Fontaine's life, looking back at his formative years, beginning at the age of seven, when he began his residential school experience. The narrative jumped back and forth between his life as a child and his life as an adult. Fontaine spoke about the abuses both he and others suffered at the hands of those working in the residential schools but he really glossed over the depth of the abuse, making me surmise that the abuse that was going on could have been a lot worse. It wasn't until the end of the book that, reading between the lines, I inferred that more catastrophic abuse had been experienced, abuse that was perhaps, suppressed for much of his life.

This book was at its strongest when spoke about the lasting affects his residential school experience had on him, his family members, and his peers. The systematic stripping away of the value of his culture by both the government and the Catholic church are the biggest takeaways from this book. I wish Fontaine had spent more time discussing how his parents dealt with the effects of having all of their children being processed through residential schools but I got the impression that his family didn't speak about this.

I would recommend this book to anyone seeking to educate themselves about the First Nations people.

[Wanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theodore Fontaine takes us to a place that many of us do not want to go. It is factual, raw and needs to be shared. I commend his personal courage, strength and honesty in writing this book. His memoirs have led me to seek deep within myself and admit that I have held gross misconceptions for the majority of my life. I need to be true to myself and admit that I have been mislead. I have started to revisit my misunderstandings and create a new belief system with regards to the Aboriginal peoples of Canada. I hold a new respect and admiration, while it is difficult not to bare shame and guilt for the sufferings of all who were impacted by the Indian Residental Schools. I am grateful and honored to have Mr. Fontaine's memoirs serve as a guide to my need for more awareness and understanding. Megwich.

[Chelsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt that there was not a lot of content about the behaviors at the residential school. I expected to lean more about how these schools were run. Instead, this was more about the whole life of a young child and very little about the actual school.

I also felt that the writing did not flow well and the experiences were not laid out in any discernible way.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking to hear about residential schools from someone who attended one i suggest giving this book a read

[Cynthia F Davidson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think it is crucial that more of these stories come to light & I'm grateful that Theodore Fontaine had the courage to relive these experiences while taking the time to write them down.

Although my First Nations friends are Migmaw (aka MicMac) their treatment at these residential schools mirrors this account, and worse. Bearing witness is the beginning of healing, and this book is a good example of that necessity.
I've already passed on my copy to my friends on a reserve in New Brunswick because their relatives are currently involved with the Truth & Reconciliation Council which has been videotaping survivor testimonies as part of the ongoing process of fully addressing these issues.

The saddest part of the 'dark legacy' of residential school abuse is the inter-generational trauma. This 'dark legacy' is being passed on to the future generations. In the absence of healing these wounds, the victims become offenders themselves.
When one's trust is shattered in childhood, and you've been stolen from your family & your people - in a tribal society which is based upon family & shared identity - everything in your psyche is undermined and you no longer fit into your family, your former community, & the settlers also reject you. Where do you 'belong' then? This story made me wonder what kind of families the perpetrators - the priests & nuns - came from...

I would have given this book more stars if the author had delved deeper into this aspect of the larger story. Of course you need to heal before your pain subsides enough to comprehend the larger context of the crimes done unto you, yet this too is part of the communal healing process, after the individual portion is underway. The way the settlers raised their own children often left a lot to be desired.
Children as young as 7 & 8 were shipped off to boarding schools all the time by the British, for instance, during their empire building & ruling days. Treatment like that hardened their hearts & laid the psychological groundwork for later pathological, colonial behavior.

It might help readers on all sides of this issue to understand how tragic this legacy is because it was done by & to the settlers children too. This undermined their emotional development, which is one more reason why the bureaucrats (former boarding school pupils themselves) lacked the compassion & insight required to stand up against this unhealthy practice of sending young children off to residential boarding schools.
None of this lessens the pain but if we don't want to repeat such 'dark legacies' we must grasp just why these practices were so insidious. If you haven't seen the film Rabbit Proof Fence, check it out, for an Australian version of this dark legacy of forced residential schooling. There are other fine Canadian films on this subject too.
I salute Fontaine's initiative & hope it encourages others to testify to the truth of what was done to them, in print, so their stories can live on & educate the rest of us, for decades to come.

[Taryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! This year I have taken on a journey to learn more about many different things. This book is amazing, heartbreaking and yet shows a positivity that you wouldn't expect from such a dark part of Canadian history. This is a major part of history that is either totally ignored or glossed over. Indigenous lives were ruined for many generations and still are today. Education needs to happen!!

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow

This poignant book shines a searing light on the profound impact of Canada's dark history—the Indian Residential School system—exposing the harrowing experiences endured by Indigenous children and the intergenerational trauma that continues to reverberate through their communities.

Fontaine's words possess an extraordinary power to both captivate and unsettle readers. With unwavering honesty, he shares his own personal story, laying bare the deep wounds inflicted upon him and countless others by the cruel machinery of assimilation. As you turn each page, you will bear witness to the heart-wrenching realities of the residential school system, as Fontaine fearlessly recounts the physical, emotional, and cultural abuses he endured during his time in these institutions.

The weight of the subject matter cannot be understated. Broken Circle is a stark reminder of the atrocities committed against Indigenous children, and Fontaine's vivid storytelling skillfully evokes a range of emotions—shock, anger, and sorrow. Through his unflinching narrative, readers gain a profound understanding of the immense toll that the residential school system has taken on individuals, families, and Indigenous communities as a whole.

This book is a crucial read, particularly during Indigenous Awareness Week, as it serves as a powerful tool for fostering empathy, understanding, and dialogue. Fontaine's courageous storytelling encourages us to confront uncomfortable truths, to reckon with our shared history, and to actively engage in the process of healing and reconciliation. Broken Circle offers a platform for the voices of survivors to be heard and validates their experiences, ensuring that their stories are never forgotten.

In conclusion, Broken Circle: The Dark Legacy of Indian Residential Schools is a profoundly powerful book that exposes the painful truths of Canada's history and the lasting impact of the Indian Residential School system.
Theodore Fontaine's unflinching storytelling, combined with his unwavering commitment to truth and healing, make this memoir an essential read for all.

4.6/5

[Stefanie Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Theodore Fontaine attended two different residential schools, Fort Alexander and Assiniboia, beginning at the age of seven. He recounts his experiences of physical, mental, and sexual abuse at the hands of the religious leaders that operated the schools. He mentions similar treatments toward other children enrolled in these schools. Fontaine goes into his trauma and how he took steps to heal and reclaim his Indigenous heritage.

So many children were abuse throughout the Americas. Entire families going back several generations were subjected to this same abuse. The generational trauma caused by forced enrollment into residential schools can never be accurately measured. So many mental health and substance abuse issues have risen from these traumas, creating more generational trauma. There are so many brave people that have come forward and recounted their experiences and who participate in remembrance days and such for the children who have not come forward or who lost their lives at these places. If you are interested in this topic, this book was emotional but wonderful. I highly recommend getting your hands on as many personal memoirs as you can, as first-person accounts of these times are vital to the historical record. I read this book for a class, and I am glad I did.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. The thing I liked most about this book was reading about Theodore’s life outside of residential school - how happy he was with his family, and the traditions they had. His residential school experiences were horrifying, but necessary for us to read. My only complaint with this book was sometimes it skipped timelines too much - I think I would have preferred a chronological story, or at least one that was a bit more structured. That might just be my personal preference. Otherwise, this was engaging, and a quick read. Recommend!

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read quite a few books on this topic, and this one is excellent. Theodore perfectly explains the paradox of today's Native Canadian in a way I think most people outside of his culture and experience can truly grasp. He discusses his childhood in the residential school system, the abandonment issues it created, the abuse he witnessed and endured, and the role it played in his life of failures and triumphs. He also talks about his own path to healing and the insight he has gained from the process.

Broken Circle should be mandatory reading in Canadian history classes across the country.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a truly informative and saddening memoir.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated this memoir of life before, during, and after living at the Fort Alexander Indian Residential School. Most accounts we get of these institutions are third-hand and seem as though they were long ago and far away, but Fontaine's story takes place throughout the 50s and 60s. He describes traumatic experiences that, while horrible, don't seem the litany of awful events that perhaps we were expecting. However, the sum of the impact of a variety of types of dehumanizing experiences - from sexual abuse to physical abuse to completing physical labor on the farm to being punished for speaking Ojibway - did lasting psychological, spiritual, physical and emotional/mental damage. When Fontaine describes his life with his family, it is serene, peaceful, and loving, and when he describes life at the residential school as harsh, dehumanizing, reinforcing his otherness, and abusive on every level. He also describes the way in which he felt abandoned by his parents, which he also believes was an intentional strategy to get him to blame his parents for his predicament, despite his love for his family. His mother believed would make her children like those of the 'white ladies' she cleaned for, until much later, when we realize that the sum total of the efforts actually damaged the minds of these youth almost beyond total recovery. Fontaine was able to have a successful career in civil engineering due to his skill in hockey, but part of that was good fortune, and all of it in spite of his residential school education, not because of it. I appreciated Fontaine's clean writing style, his emphasis on getting his story out, his need to break the silence and alleviate the shame, self-doubt, and fear that accompany this sort of truth-telling. It's also significant that First Nations people were not considered fully human before the law until 1960. And First Nations people, like so many oppressed peoples, still are in constant struggle to uncover, defend, and nurture their own humanity.

[Isaac L · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Although we are all unique, we are not alone in what we endure. No matter how much hurt, difficulty and misunderstanding we face, there’s always someone who has endured something more catastrophic."

I read this book in one sitting which is unusual for me, and since there are a lot of powerful emotions that are elicited throughout, I had to steady myself at certain points. As a memoir, the novel is essentially a therapeutic exorcism of inner demons for the author, and this manifests itself in the way the book is written. There are a lot of harrowing and intense descriptions of residential school life, which are spaced out throughout the book between sections where Theodore shares childhood memories and gives us a look into his family and culture. This really humanizes the situation and prevents all the residential school memories being depicted all at once, and the cultural insights are valuable and serve as a break from the darkness. We see this dichotomy from the start - the opening chapter is a disturbing retelling of SA, and then immediately after the second chapter depicts – in his words – his happiest memory with his parents as they walked together.

This book is difficult to read. Especially if you personally experienced some of the specific traumas that are described, even if you grew up a completely different way. I can’t imagine how difficult to write it must have been. The author has a way of relating the initial trauma to the reader and conveying the consequences that echo through later life. How addiction becomes a crutch.

Another thing that stood out to me was that he is very good at reliving and writing from the mind of a child, how innocent their thoughts are and the way they see the world. I’ve heard that is very difficult for an author to do.

[Sinéad O'Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite having read so many accounts of the experiences of survivors within the Residential School system, I am never left untouched by another account. The profound pain, disconnection, confusion and abuse these children were subjected to is impossible to become desensitized to. Fontaine's account is all of these things, and more. His prose is simple but his message is so deeply important. A life tormented by institutionalized assimilation against his core identity, the cultural violence of trying to split a child from who he really is, the sexual and physical violence that shaped a boy into an abuser and an addict; all of this is Fontaine's reality and the reality of so many survivors.

These cycles of dysfunction, instilled and reinforced by the Canadian Government for more than a century have left such a devastating impact on Indigenous community and family structures, relationships, languages and culture. Fontaine's own experiences exemplify those of many who have struggled with the burden of colonialism, and the after-effects for future generations.

[Thalia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a tough subject. And one that doesn't get alot of acceptance. Sadly that's just the very thing that needs to happen. I believe this was a horrible thing that happened and I believe it's my responsibilty as a Canadian (and a Catholic) to learn more about this. Fontaine is brave to write this memoir. I think he does a fair job of a tough thing. I do wish, however, that he was more in your face about it and was better at conjeying the ripple effect of the abuse. It doesn't hit as hard as it could. I also have to wonder at some of the previous reviews of this book. One can only assume they didn't like what the author had to say (and mixing that up with a poorly written book, when it's actually the case of a poor excuse for a reader), rejected it as the truth or didn't actually read it. One star? Whatever.

[Elsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book in Vancouver, B.C. It's a wonderful story of Native Canadian culture and family life. The writer is a survivor of the criminal, sadistic the Indian Residential School program in Canada. They also existed in the United States. Of course, certainly parts of the book dealing with the sexual, emotional and physical abuse the young residents of these schools endured. Fontaine deals with this head on, but also includes the wonderful story of his early family life and his courageous journey to recovery as an adult. I recommend this to anyone who wants to know more about Native life.

[Mandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This memoir really exposes the harsh truths behind Residential School survivors. I feel these are the stories that are important to hear, even though unimaginably difficult to share.

This was a very dark time in Canadian history that cannot be ignored. It's important to understand and hear these experiences to prevent these mistakes from repeating.

Fontaine has endured a long healing journey. This memoir was no doubt a significant section on not only his own path, but for other survivors battling with their inner demons.

[Lydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This very well written book is written about something that happened in my lifetime, and it brought back some memories of the fifties, and our perception and judgements about 'Indians'. Much of what Mr. Fontaine wrote about resonated with me, since there are some experiences and memories that one has of one's childhood, which are very similar, even though in a completely different setting than what he experienced. This topic has been very much discussed in the past number of years, and it's good to read one person's memoirs.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book as Fontaine recollects many great times with his family. Reading about the traditions and experiences with loved ones was a gift and lifted me up. Through all the bad, Fontaine is able to go back to what life was like before all the hurt. He's very brave for looking his demons in the face and working to come out the other side. Miigwetch for sharing your gift of this book.

[Chantal (atozbookaholic) de Rocquigny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only learnt about residential schools about 3 years ago. I wanted to educate myself by purchasing books on residential schools, the survivors & the history of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. This book touched my heart because it takes place in Manitoba (my home province). It was heartbreaking to learn what Theodore occurred during his years at an Indian residential school. This is just one memoir! I can't even imagine the pain and suffering of a survivor.

[Liz]

A sad commentary on a piece of our Canadian history. Remarkable story full of healing and hope, despair and reconciliation. Fontaine is incredibly honest and forthright in telling his story of the abuse he suffered in residential schools, yet he is incredibly forgiving in the telling. I kept thinking how I really 'had no idea'!

[Mariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Canadian Obijway Indians were made to feel inferior and Catholics priests and nuns ran Residential schools and abused the kids. This is a survivors memoir and contains great sketches of Canadian Obijway life in the l950's.

[Jenn Hailley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well written account of one survivors experience and aftermath with residential schools. Bravely written. We need more of these accounts to help our country and our indigenous people heal.

Jumped around a little, and could have gone more in depth. But overall well done and honest.

[Coatesj · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so grateful to Mr. Fontaine for sharing his story. It is enlightening and fills me with emotion. Forgiveness but not forgetting. What our government wrought historically is something we all need to work for today. This book was a clear reminder of that.

[Marie J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book. Although many of the things the author talks about can be raw and shocking, it is done in a way that is strangely gentle, and does not take away the emotions and consequences behind each situation. This book would be a great resource for students to read in high school.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this for a research project on residential schools and found this to be an easy read that didn’t offer a lot of help to me in terms of research but was interesting (and sad) enough for the regular reader.

[Mewie Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read this as part of a class, but I'm really glad to have read it anyway. It is not an easy read, and it made me cry multiple times, but I feel it's an important read for anyone living in Canada.