This resource is invaluable because it explores the experiences and lived interactions of Bear Rock Mountain. Mountain has first hand accounts and insights onto how Residential Schools attempted to erase and forbid Indigenous Languages. Mountain also connects this back to his understanding of identity and demonstrates the powerful connection of language to who you are. Mountain’s story is important because it also demonstrates the cycle of coming to terms with what has happened and figuring out how to move forward. Would that be with angry and hate? Would that be with a hope for the better? Mountain has chosen to reclaim and empower his identity, language and community. Although this is located in the North West Territories, the stories hold connections to experiences of our communities in British Columbia and common themes of identity, language and culture.
Citation for the book:
Mountain, A., 2019. From Bear Rock Mountain : The Life and Times of a Dene Residential School Survivor, Heritage House Publishing. Ottawa, Ontario. Retrieved from https://canadacommons.ca/artifacts/1878314/from-bear-rock-mountain/2627306/ on 20 Oct 2022. CID: 20.500.12592/2chm26.