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This 12 months, Kanakii Mekaisto will obtain her grasp’s diploma in social work and set up a college on the Siksika Nation that teaches conventional indigenous methods.
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“It is going to be a spot the place kids can study our language, the place moms can study to like their kids and study who they’re from our grandmothers,” says the residential faculty survivor, Siksika Nation member, instructor, data keeper and therapist , named a 2022 Mount Royal College Alumni (2000 social work diploma) of the 12 months.
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For 60-year-old Mekaisto – crushed, abused and advised “you are silly and going to hell” at a residential faculty, whereas additionally being the kid of a residential faculty survivor – it is a approach ahead she’s begun to see when she was 17 she had her first little one.
Dropping out of highschool, she went on welfare and encountered a white social employee who advised her, “you are nothing however a cow and all you are going to do is have youngsters and get cash. “
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As a substitute, after attending a parenting program that emphasised life abilities and encouragement from her twin sister (a instructor) who assured her “you are not silly, you are able to do no matter you need,” Mekaisto returned to highschool.
“I by no means went on welfare once more.”
She continued her schooling whereas combating residential school-related trauma that contributed to melancholy, nightmares, insomnia, post-traumatic stress and a poisonous marriage. She finally sought remedy, divorce and a return to the methods of her ancestors.
Mekaisto raised 5 kids whereas working full-time and earned levels in each social work (College of Calgary) and grasp’s in schooling (College of Lethbridge). This 12 months she is going to acquire her grasp’s diploma in social work (Maskwacis Neighborhood Faculty).
That steady studying retains her transferring ahead and busy, “in any other case I am tousled.”
As proprietor of Sikotan Ikimmapii (Sikotan in recognition of her late maternal grandmother who raised her, and Ikimmapii, a contraction of the Blackfoot phrase which means to assist, to care) she provides counseling and schooling based mostly on conventional teachings is concentrated.
That is additionally the main focus of Mekaisto’s deliberate faculty.
“These are our methods, how they heal us. With out them I would not be right here at the moment.”