Naming the West : Stories Siksika Crowfoot School School

Siksika Elder Story 2:
Crowfoot School

Were your classes small or big?

Classrooms? They were about this size. But we all would, we cannot sit beside the girls. The girls on this side, and the boys on this side.

Why?

That’s the way they trained us. Classroom, when you go to Church, you’re all separated. When you go down to eat, you are separated again. And we have to march and stand real silent beside the table. If you even go like this, you made a noise, another five minutes. And if somebody keeps coughing, another five minutes. And soon enough you only have five minutes to sit down, pray first, sit down, and eat fast before they blow that whistle again. That’s how it was.

Did you have to pray English or Blackfoot?

We had to pray in English. If you are caught praying in Blackfoot, you’re going to miss one weekend. They won’t let you go home. You get a strap, and then don’t home, if you dare to pray in Blackfoot.

You guys were all supposed to speak English?

Yeah, we’re supposed to, but none of us spoke English. Just Blackfoot.