Story told by: Lorraine Montour
Edited by: Melissa Stacey, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Translation by: Karonhí:io Delaronde
Don’t tell Brisebois
I went to Kateri School for first, second, and third grade. After that, my mother got married to a German and we moved to Montreal. I went to school in Montreal West. It was a nice experience because from there, you went to Montreal West High School. There was no high school in Kahnawà:ke after grade nine. You had to go elsewhere.
We were in Montreal for a number of years. I was maybe 14 when my mother got divorced and I came back to Kahnawà:ke. I continued school at Kateri.
I ended up getting a job in the city. It was either that or you had to go to a convent in Montreal and I thought, “Shit, I’m not gonna deal with nuns again.”
I said, “To hell with it,” and got a job at Dillard’s Clothing Store.
One day, I went by Sir George Williams College after work. I went inside and I asked somebody, “Are there classes?”
“Yes,” the woman said, “I’m finishing my high school classes. Go over there, you can sign up for all the night courses that you need to finish high school.”
The woman at the desk asked me, “What courses do you want to take?”
I said, “I just want to finish high school.”
She gave me the basic classes. Two nights a week and Saturday mornings. I’d go to work then I’d go to my classes after.
One day, I went home and my grandmother said, “The Indian agent, Brisebois, wants to see you.”
I said, “What for?”
She said, “Tó:ka,” meaning “I don’t know.”
I went to see him and he said, “You had no business signing up for courses at Sir George. We’re not paying your bill. You’re gonna pay for it yourself.”
When I signed up for my courses, the woman from Sir George Williams College took out this ledger and said, “You’re one of the first to sign up from Indian Affairs. Here’s a voucher. Go get all of the books you need and give me the voucher when you’re done.”
So, I did that. She must’ve sent the bill to Ottawa and they gave it to Brisebois. That was not the protocol for education. You had to go where the Indian agent said; I would’ve had to go to the convent.
I went back to school and every time I was in class, I was thinking that someone was going to tell me that I can’t be there.
When I got back home, my grandmother said, “You have to go see Laplante.” He was the assistant Indian Agent.
I went to see Laplante and he said, “Here’s a check for you. Don’t tell Brisebois. It’s for your bus fare to go to school.”
I continued my classes and then eventually left to go to New York. I went to train for blood bank work and figured I’d finish my education some other time.