to our newest followers Mavis Benson, baby_ray_12, Crystal Trudeau and Terra Matthews. from your Administrator
Friday, December 30, 2011
Rocky Patrick...
So I asked…so I asked the boys how to dance. We were in dorm, getting ready for a dance this one time. Also in the washroom doing our hair. Dabbing it down with Brylcream then running a comb through it until we got it just where we wanted it. Different boys had different styles.
And that’s when I told them I didn’t know how to dance. I told them I never ever danced before. I guess I was 11. And so…and so…they said just move up and down….and make sure you move your legs. You have to move your legs to the music….back and forth. This way and that way.
This would have been in about 1967 when I was 11.
‘Just do what Rocky Patrick does.’
Someone said that. They told me to just copy Rocky Patrick. ‘Rocky’s a good dancer,’ they said.
So…so…we get to the dance...down at the showhall. And that’s when I decide…okay….it’s time to do this. I have to learn somehow and probably the best way is to just get onto the dance floor. And copy Rocky Patrick.
So I ask my sister to dance. My sister Sharon who is older’n me. And that’s how I learn to dance.
By copying Rocky Patrick.
And also on special occasions like when the students from
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Miss Ann
I’m not scared to dance anymore. We had another dance and I even asked Miss Ann for a dance. She is our Secretary at our school and very pretty. She said yes.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
December 27, 2011
We decided some time ago to create a post or website where we can write stories or put up photos from our ‘residential school days’ for others to see. We ended up at Blogspot.com which was created by Google for people wanting to create a ‘blog’ which is a little like a website where you go and see what people are talking about or posting. And in our case, our blog is called ‘Lejac Indian Residential School’ and can be found at http://lejac.blogspot.com/ where we have so far posted quite a number of photos starting around 1960 up to the early 1970s from a disk containing over 300 original photos sent to me by Jim Callanan a few years ago.
After we created the blog, I found Jim Callanan (formerly Br. James) through the phone book and we talked about what it was like there....at Lejac...in the 1960s. I sent him the link and he got back to me couple days later and made some changes to things I’d written. Which I later posted and you can see it by going to the blog, where I talk about being there, at Lejac, and his stuff is the writing in blue. And he and I agreed to stay in touch.
We launched the blog on September 1, 2009. We have since posted over 130 times. A posting is each time you add a story or put up some photos on the blog.
After we went on-line, about a year and a half after we launched the blog, I was notified by someone who grew up at Lejac. His mom was our cook at residential school in the 1960s and he sent me emails to say how much he enjoyed the blog. Jim also sent us several stories and more photos. We sent our link to The Travelling Feather, the McLeod Lake Indian Band newsletter who put a small blurb on ‘lejac.blogspot.com’ in the Band newsletter back in 2010.
Then in early 2011 we were approached by a young fellow out of Kelowna who was working on a presentation for his class. He chose to do it on Lejac and requested our permission to use stories from our blog. We graciously agreed. In return we requested his permission to print our exchange in the blog and he granted us that permission. Look for that beginning Feb. 5th, 2011. We met another student on-line (never actually met her in person) requesting permission to use things from our blog just this November (of 2011) for a paper she was working on. Once again we graciously acquiesced.
The blog is for everyone, if you want to share old photos or your stories on residential school. Speaking of photos, we came across quite a number of very old pictures on-line (on Facebook) which we hope to get permission to post here on our blog. I will work on that. Failing that, you may go to Facebook and search a group called ‘Lejac Residential School Memorial Project’ for some stories as well as photos.
WHY DO WE DO THIS?
Probably mostly for the heart and mostly for the soul. I spent most of my childhood there. Eight years to be exact. And all the things we done, the things we saw, heard, learned…affected us for the rest of our life. Whether for good or for bad. I prefer to think for good. Spoke to a fella number of years ago now…we were both there together in the 1960s and we agreed years later that it was not all bad. Not all of it was bad! And we also agreed that given the conditions on our reserve back in the 50s and 60s for some of us Lejac might have been a safe haven. I understand not everyone feels that way.
But for me it’s important to try and feel the good things we learned there. And then move forward. I hope others may find their way as well.
Our email address is ‘jackman2@telus.net’. Thank you and you all have a nice day. Verne Solonas, Administrator
After we created the blog, I found Jim Callanan (formerly Br. James) through the phone book and we talked about what it was like there....at Lejac...in the 1960s. I sent him the link and he got back to me couple days later and made some changes to things I’d written. Which I later posted and you can see it by going to the blog, where I talk about being there, at Lejac, and his stuff is the writing in blue. And he and I agreed to stay in touch.
We launched the blog on September 1, 2009. We have since posted over 130 times. A posting is each time you add a story or put up some photos on the blog.
After we went on-line, about a year and a half after we launched the blog, I was notified by someone who grew up at Lejac. His mom was our cook at residential school in the 1960s and he sent me emails to say how much he enjoyed the blog. Jim also sent us several stories and more photos. We sent our link to The Travelling Feather, the McLeod Lake Indian Band newsletter who put a small blurb on ‘lejac.blogspot.com’ in the Band newsletter back in 2010.
Then in early 2011 we were approached by a young fellow out of Kelowna who was working on a presentation for his class. He chose to do it on Lejac and requested our permission to use stories from our blog. We graciously agreed. In return we requested his permission to print our exchange in the blog and he granted us that permission. Look for that beginning Feb. 5th, 2011. We met another student on-line (never actually met her in person) requesting permission to use things from our blog just this November (of 2011) for a paper she was working on. Once again we graciously acquiesced.
The blog is for everyone, if you want to share old photos or your stories on residential school. Speaking of photos, we came across quite a number of very old pictures on-line (on Facebook) which we hope to get permission to post here on our blog. I will work on that. Failing that, you may go to Facebook and search a group called ‘Lejac Residential School Memorial Project’ for some stories as well as photos.
WHY DO WE DO THIS?
Probably mostly for the heart and mostly for the soul. I spent most of my childhood there. Eight years to be exact. And all the things we done, the things we saw, heard, learned…affected us for the rest of our life. Whether for good or for bad. I prefer to think for good. Spoke to a fella number of years ago now…we were both there together in the 1960s and we agreed years later that it was not all bad. Not all of it was bad! And we also agreed that given the conditions on our reserve back in the 50s and 60s for some of us Lejac might have been a safe haven. I understand not everyone feels that way.
But for me it’s important to try and feel the good things we learned there. And then move forward. I hope others may find their way as well.
Our email address is ‘jackman2@telus.net’. Thank you and you all have a nice day. Verne Solonas, Administrator
Saturday, December 24, 2011
IN HOUSE LEAGUE
We started an in-house league in 1968-69. All the boys in Seniors and Intermediates signed up and we formed several teams of maybe 10 boys to a team including the goalie. And they posted our schedule of all our games on the wall in Rec room.
And competition was fierce. All the teams wanted to be in top spot. The games lasted from after Xmas until April when our ice started melting. In fact, it was so warm out that early April there were bare spots on the ice where the ice had melted through. And the boys on the ice had to watch where they were skating so as not to trip on the bare spots. In the final game of the year, they announced each player one by one as they stepped on to the ice. And a big cheer would go up as the students lined up around the boards to cheer on their favourite team. Then they announced Gilbert Chingee’s name. He was one of the goalies for one of the teams. And….he stepped onto the ice…then fell down on to the ice. In front of the whole crowd. And it just erupted!! Guess he stepped onto a bare spot. And the whole crowd went up into a cheer as he gathered himself up and off to his net. That was so-o-o funny!!
And competition was fierce. All the teams wanted to be in top spot. The games lasted from after Xmas until April when our ice started melting. In fact, it was so warm out that early April there were bare spots on the ice where the ice had melted through. And the boys on the ice had to watch where they were skating so as not to trip on the bare spots. In the final game of the year, they announced each player one by one as they stepped on to the ice. And a big cheer would go up as the students lined up around the boards to cheer on their favourite team. Then they announced Gilbert Chingee’s name. He was one of the goalies for one of the teams. And….he stepped onto the ice…then fell down on to the ice. In front of the whole crowd. And it just erupted!! Guess he stepped onto a bare spot. And the whole crowd went up into a cheer as he gathered himself up and off to his net. That was so-o-o funny!!
STONY CREEK
We went to Stony Creek one day in about 1968 for a performance. It was a small Native community just south of Vanderhoof. We went in another bus they brought in from Fraser Lake. The school bus was blue and it was another bus driver I never saw before. All us boys in the Band got sick after we returned from Stony Creek. Almost our entire Intermediate dorm came down with food poisoning. Even Mr. Kenny was in bed sick.
Mr. Kenny
Mr. Leonard Kenny arrived at Lejac in about 1967 as the Intermediate Dorm supervisor. He stayed on for two or three years. He was from Newfoundland. He was the one who introduced all the boys to Boy Scouts. Later he began to train with the Vanderhoof police. I guess he wanted to be a cop. His girlfriend was a nurse at Vanderhoof and she used to come to visit him, sometimes sitting in the Rec room with all us boys. I just remember she was very pretty and nice.
Later, in 1968, Charlie Kenny came in as the Intermediate Dorm supervisor and Leonard Kenny got bumped up to Senior Dorm. Charlie Kenny was Mr. Kenny's younger brother. First day in the fall of 1968....this is so funny....first day at residential school that fall we were all in dorm getting ready for bed. And we had just met Charlie Kenny. He was in the little bedroom in the corner of Intermediate Dorm when all of a sudden he poked his head out of his bedroom and shouted ‘Who farred that?’
What? Again he repeated himself. We all looked at each other wondering what the hell he was saying. Turns out someone threw a pop can which bounced off his bedroom wall. Now he wants to know who threw it. He was saying ‘Who fired that?’ except the way he talks everybody thought he wanted to know who farted!
Mr. Leonard Kenny was the one who I remember was just about swearing one morning when we were all getting up in dorm. Brother James, the Senior Dorm supervisor, came in carrying a small radio and told Leonard Kenny someone just got shot. Mr. Kenny kept saying over and over ‘I can’t believe it. I just can't believe it!!' That was the time Robert Kennedy got shot. Robert Kennedy is John F. Kennedy’s younger brother. JFK used to be the U.S president.
Later, in 1968, Charlie Kenny came in as the Intermediate Dorm supervisor and Leonard Kenny got bumped up to Senior Dorm. Charlie Kenny was Mr. Kenny's younger brother. First day in the fall of 1968....this is so funny....first day at residential school that fall we were all in dorm getting ready for bed. And we had just met Charlie Kenny. He was in the little bedroom in the corner of Intermediate Dorm when all of a sudden he poked his head out of his bedroom and shouted ‘Who farred that?’
What? Again he repeated himself. We all looked at each other wondering what the hell he was saying. Turns out someone threw a pop can which bounced off his bedroom wall. Now he wants to know who threw it. He was saying ‘Who fired that?’ except the way he talks everybody thought he wanted to know who farted!
Mr. Leonard Kenny was the one who I remember was just about swearing one morning when we were all getting up in dorm. Brother James, the Senior Dorm supervisor, came in carrying a small radio and told Leonard Kenny someone just got shot. Mr. Kenny kept saying over and over ‘I can’t believe it. I just can't believe it!!' That was the time Robert Kennedy got shot. Robert Kennedy is John F. Kennedy’s younger brother. JFK used to be the U.S president.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
At residential school...
I guess I first noticed it that year...when I was 12. 12 years old at residential school. We all went for a walk to Ghost Town one Saturday, all us Intermediates and the Seniors. And me and Mo and Les we were all at the back of the pack. That's when I turned around and saw one of the Intermediate boys walking behind us. He was the last boy...walking all by himself as most boys ran up ahead disappearing into the forest ahead of us. He was always by himself. All the boys at residential school all had their friends...who they hung out with doing stuff together. Made things a lot more fun.
Me I hung out with Mojo everywhere...always doing stuff together. He was my best friend. Sometimes Les hung out with us too. And we would always do everything together at residential school!
Except this other boy behind us. No one ever hung out with him. He had no friends. Always by himself. Not only that but the boys were always making fun of him....and picked on him.
I did something different this year...at residential school...in 1968. Something new.
I stopped. And I waited. I waited for that boy. I...Les...Mojo looked at me. Wondered why I stopped...and waited. Finally I told them let's just wait for him. And so that's what we did. We waited for him...and finally he reached to where we were standing...in that field above our residential school. And when he reached us we all turned around and we all walked together.
He walked with us. That was that year at residential school....and when sometimes things were awesome!
Friday, December 16, 2011
me and marvin...
When we start at residential school we were pretty young. Me and Marvin we both start the same year...in 1963 when we were just 7 years old. I always thought I was a pretty tough kid. But that first year I remember Ian Scott, our Junior Dorm supervisor come to me one day, maybe about couple weeks after school start that fall. And he ask me to go up to dorm to see what's wrong with Marvin.
So I go up to our Junior dorm and I see Marvin sitting on his bed in dorm. And he gots his head down. And I ask...and I ask him...I ask him what's wrong. And he say...and he say...he say he's 'lonely'. I ask him why....and he say he keep thinking of him his mom back home. I tell him don't think about back home. I tell him I never ever think about back home. I tell him if he think about back home it's just going to make him lonely.
'So don't ever think about back home.'
I then...I then tell him let's go play outside. I tell him we should go outside to the playground. Finally he come with me outside...and that's where we play. Me and Marvin....when we were kids.
Monday, December 5, 2011
OUR STATS (from facebook),,,,
Regarding 'lejac.blogspot.com' it is a collection of stories when we were young. When we were there. Since we opened we have had 7,131 hits from Canada alone, 651 hits from the US, United Kingdom 93 hits, India 77 hits, Malasia 63 hits, France 40, Germany 28, Australia 23, Russia 10 and Thailand 10 hits. For a total of 8,220 hits (or page views). And 7 followers at last count.
verne solonas, administrator
REGARDING THAT DOCUMENTARY...
...spoke to cftk in Terrace who apparentyl did or had a copy of that documentary but UNFORTUNATELY it was never saved! Too too bad. Some of us were in the film. It would have been the only time you would have ever seen us 'live in 1970'. Cheers folks. Maybe in the next life huh.
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