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Mary Jane Joe
Born Nk'xetko at the Joeyaska Ranch near Merritt B.C. Mary Jane Joe witnessed firsthand what it meant to be "status Indian." Parents and siblings were sent to Indian residential sc...view moreBorn Nk'xetko at the Joeyaska Ranch near Merritt B.C. Mary Jane Joe witnessed firsthand what it meant to be "status Indian." Parents and siblings were sent to Indian residential schools and subjected to harsh rules of assimilation. The Sterling Family of Joeyaska nurtured Nk'xetko through her schooling and after Grade 12 graduation sent her off to university to start a degree but the overwhelming strains of city life canceled those plans. Getting married, starting a family, and moving to the Yukon far from Joeyaska resulted in a new type of stress that residential school hadn't prepared her for. It was in raising two children who asked about her childhood that forced Nk'xetko to seek professional counselling. The tide of self-hatred began to diminish in studying scriptures found in the Bible giving her the courage to complete two university degrees by age forty-seven, teaching for eighteen years in post-secondary colleges and institutions, despite being called a failure."My family taught me to "yemit" to pray to the Creator about everything that matters. I retired from teaching and now serve Langara College as Elder-in-Residence. I am happily married to Wayne, we live in the community of Musqueam, Vancouver, B.C. and best of all I teach my three grandchildren that prayers in the language, traditional crafts, songs, dance and drumming make the circle complete and bring much joy. My parents were correct; yemit to the Creator, and maintain strong family ties: these are what's important in this world. We also have a hope in the afterlife, where, "We will see our ancestors in the stars when we become star people."view less
Books by Mary Jane Joe
Xwist Memin Kin "I Want to go Home": Memories of Kamloops Residential School and Joeyaska Ranch