“I had to grow up with a lack of love, because my parents [grew] up with no love at all at residential schools for most of their lives. And having to grow up seeing most of my uncles become alcoholics, drinking every single day just to cope with life itself — it was hard.

“I moved here from Masset, Haida Gwaii. The community there was good, besides [dealing] with all the after-effects of residential schools, and having to have so many people be angry and turn to drinking and drugs. That’s what got me away from Masset. I didn’t want my kids to be getting into that lifestyle, so I chose to move them out of there.”

“Do you have a fond memory of living in Haida Gwaii?”

“My mom's potlatch. Sitting as a guest at somebody else’s potlatch is amazing, but having to throw a feast and having to be behind the scenes and missing everything — it’s hard work.

“Hereditary chiefs are “supposed to be men”, but my mother became the second woman to be the hereditary chief of Haida Gwaii. She just became chief a couple years ago. Even before she became chief, she was a very powerful woman. She was on the council for most of my life. I believe what gave her all the power is the fact that she survived residential schools, and she never let them tell her she “can’t do this”, and she “can’t do that”. She did everything. She worked plenty of jobs to provide for her kids.”

“What lessons did she teach you?”

“Stand for what’s right. There are plenty of lessons — but just stand up for what’s right.”