The Centre is saddened to hear of the loss of residential school Survivor and author Theodore Fontaine.
Theodore was a member of the Sagkeeng First Nation in Manitoba, where he served as a chief in the late 70s. He went on to work with government and First Nations organizations, including as executive director of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs.
He spent 12 years in residential schools, at Fort Alexander Residential School and later Assiniboia Indian Residential School. After receiving a degree in civil engineering, he became a speaker and commentator on his experience in residential school and went on to write a bestselling memoir. In is powerful memoir, Broken Circle: The Dark Legacy of Indian Residential Schools, he examined the impact of abuse at school, the loss of his family, language and community, and his journey to healing.
“…each day as I take another step toward reconciliation, I take a step toward finding my way back to the joyous, effervescent, mischievous Ojibway child that the Creator intended me to be.” – Theodore Fontaine, from the foreword for Stolen Lives: The Indigenous Peoples of Canada and the Indian Residential Schools
As a prominent and instrumental voice for Survivors, he contributed to the forthcoming publication, Did You See Us?: Reunion, Remembrance, and Reclamation at an Urban Indian Residential School, which explores the legacy of the Assiniboia Residential School.
Theodore died at the age of 79. Learn more about his life and legacy from CBC News.
