RANKIN INLET - Numerous Inuit in Rankin Inlet and Chesterfield Inlet had a chance to unburden themselves of some of the pain and anguish they've long been carrying inside this past week.

Inuit cultural advisor Peter Irniq, left, and commissioner Wilton Littlechild applaud the testimony given by Cecelia Ayaruak in front of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Rankin Inlet this past week. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada is touring across the North gathering testimony it will use to create as complete an historical record as possible of the Indian (and Inuit) Residential School (IRS) system and legacy.

The record will be preserved and made accessible to the public for future study and use.

The TRC will also submit a report to the federal government on the IRS system and experience, including the history, purpose, operation and supervision of the IRS system, its effects and consequences (systemic harms, impact on human dignity and intergenerational consequences) and the ongoing legacy of the residential schools.

Person after person appeared before the visiting members of the TRC to talk about their experiences after being uprooted from their families and friends and sent away to school.

Some talked about the sexual and physical abuse they suffered, while others spoke of the pain they felt upon returning to their communities years later and being made to feel almost useless due to their lack of traditional skills.

Some told the TRC they still have little patience when dealing with white people, while others said they have a difficult time trusting anyone caucasian.

There were those who spoke of losing their identity, while others relived the degradation and humiliation heaped upon them at the school they attended.

Cecelia Ayaruak of Rankin Inlet told the TRC she obtained her education in Churchill, Man., Yellowknife, Chesterfield Inlet and Rankin.

She said many supervisors at the institutes she attended were mistreating the children, as were many of the teachers.

"In Rankin, some people may remember the janitor at the school who would be ordered to discipline us," said Ayaruak.

"He did not want to do that job, but he had no choice.

"He used to take us to the bathroom and tell us to pretend it's painful and holler, "Ouch!"

"He would then strap his own hands to spare the students."

Ayaruak said there were dialect differences among their fellow students in Churchill and they often didn't understand one another.

She said students would mock each other's dialects and make the mistake of telling each other how to speak correctly.

"I have never talked about these issues to my family, or anyone else for that matter because I'm ashamed.

"We were told all Inuit are a bunch of dogs.

"I was so mad I started barking like a dog on purpose because they called me a dog.

"I have two legs, two arms and don't walk like a dog, so, just to be spiteful, I went on my knees because that's what dogs do."

Ayaruak said she tried hard to keep her courage.

She told the TRC members her mother did not raise her a dog.

"I was born a human and I'm not a dog.

"I was terrified, for sure, but I was 12 years old and I knew I had to be strong.

"We were told not to speak Inuktitut in the class and I made sure my children would know English, but that was my mistake because I was ashamed of being Inuit.

"I made a mistake when I should be elevating our own culture."

Cecillia MacCallum told the TRC being mistreated as a child stays with you your entire life.

She said she remembers two male teachers using rulers to strap the hands of students.

"I started to use alcohol, and I was trying to understand why we were mistreated," said MacCallum.

"I used to drink, pass out and not remember days.

"I couldn't talk about these issues to my parents or my relatives because I was in so much pain.

"But, now that they've passed on, I can finally voice it because I won't hurt my parents' feelings."

MacCallum said in those days, many family laws were broken.

She said teachers and supervisors were able to get away with almost anything.

"If anybody gets a little slap these days, they can be reported right away and could even end up in court.

"But we used to go through a lot worse than that, and we've heard the stories here of how much pain so many experienced.

"Today, I don't use alcohol anymore and I am slowly healing.

"My life is getting better after being able to release some of these issues."

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