Knowing History—Anastasia Pouchette
What is still left to be heard: stories as ritual
Image © Greves Pouchette, 2023.
My name is Anastasia Poucette. I was born and raised in Morley (MIni Thni). I graduated high school in Morley 2005, got my grade 12. I also attended CDI College and graduated with my Oil and Gas Administration Diploma in 2012. I come from a family that travelled around the world and I was fortunate enough to understand our customs and family teachings. I suffered from addiction and lost my kids to the system, but with my determination of getting my kids back, I am a strong vocal activist against addictions. I speak at many treatment centers. I also attend many ceremonies. I am currently attending Bow Valley College, taking addictions studies to become an addictions counselor. I enjoy making crafts such as Ribbon Skirts and beadwork. I love donating my time helping my community and enjoy speaking vocally in a public setting. I am a fun easy-going person and I enjoy singing and writing songs. I love learning about customs and traditions of culture, that we are losing today. I want to be able to instruct or mentor my children of the culture that was almost taken away. I am enjoying life today.
Learning…about the land, where it comes from, and how the Europeans came to Turtle Island (North America). How the Indigenous peoples were assimilated and colonized into residential schools, day schools and the 60s scoop. How Indigenous people have evolved into one nation today. There is a lot that has changed, but it is still run by the government. Coming from a family that was taken into residential schools and day schools is hard. The experiences they suffered cannot bring back the teachings they lost, or the language. Today, a lot has changed: many are speaking up and today, young people are getting up, going to school to learn about Indigenous history and how it became to be the most diverse culture in today's history.
Learning your history is important. There are many people that want to learn where they come from and what they represent and what gives them purpose in life. Learning about the history of Indigenous peoples, the trauma and abuse they have endured throughout history, is sad. Learning…about residential school and how they tried to assimilate the Indigenous people by making them believe in western society.
What is the purpose today to stop the cycle of abuse and trauma that continues to happen? People often wondered, how we could make this a better place? What is the purpose we are trying to teach as a community? How can one stop the colonial ways of living?
Personally, I come from a family that has suffered residential school and attended day school at an early age. Since then, things have changed. I have come to realize that healing comes in many ways, for example, going to a sharing circle and expressing yourself in a calm respectful way without judgement can really go a long way. Even being a part of a group and expressing yourself, sharing the struggles that many survivors have gone through, or taking a class that has many teachings of history of Indigenous peoples helps to heal. I am learning about the customs and the land, where it comes from, and who we acknowledge. It is all based on teaching.
These past couple of months, I have learned that Indigenous peoples have been around Turtle Island for 16,000 years. Turtle Island is term in western society called North America. There are many languages, cultures, and spiritual belief systems involving Mother Earth. I have learned that Indigenous peoples are and still very connected to land by having ceremonies and thanking the Great Spirit for the many blessing that they have been given. But due to the past of residential schools and day schools and 60 scoops, many Indigenous children were taken away from their families. Indigenous people did not have a choice to decide if they wanted it or not. They were taken by force.
Western people thought Indigenous peoples were dirty and did “not” know how to use the land because, they did not know the concept of money and what the land can produce. What they did not understand is that the Indigenous use the land for healing, using what is given by trade, and to honor what their entity has bestowed upon them.
Sometimes, I have often wondered what it would have been like if there had been natural communication—where people as one came together to learn from each other, rather than cheating and stealing. Look at Hudson’s Bay Company. Britain came to North America (Turtle Island) to get into the fur trade back in the 1600s to 1800s and to do that, they were taught by the Indigenous peoples on how to live and became one with the land. But the Indigenous peoples did not know that the British wanted it for their gain—the gain of money and what it can produce.
I have lived on the land of the Stoney Nation since I was a young girl. I have learned so much through oral teachings and protocols. I took a class because I wanted to learn more about the history of Indigenous peoples, but what I did not realize was that I was learning more about myself and those around me. I can relate to the stories being told about losing language and not being able to express myself, due to fearing people. I learned that Indigenous peoples were around even before the settlers came to Turtle Island. I learned about the fur trade that makes up Hudson’s Bay history of earnings.
Everything that the settlers wanted and took for their personal gain is beyond me. Today, people are standing up and talking about the trauma and abuse that has occurred for many centuries. It is what they bring up the Truth and Reconciliation. The government is trying to give back money for the damage that has happened to Indigenous peoples.
What sparked my interest is the land, how the Indigenous peoples valued and respect Mother Earth. How they make clothing and what they use to help the people by trading and oral teachings. That is what makes great listeners. I love learning many teachings even if it is different from what I normally would listen to. I like history. I like learning about the fur trade and what makes up a business.
Today, everything has changed. Hudson Bay has become a multibillion-dollar corporation. There is more truth coming forth from Residential Schools. Indigenous youth today are finding their voice through song and prayer. People are giving back to the community on reservations. Today, I see native corporations doing outreach, giving back to the people struggling in the community of Calgary.
Many changes are meant to come.
This essay is part of the Rituals Series seeking to understand what is urgent about a place that could be addressed by a ritual.
Guest Editor: Greves Pouchette