I was born and raised near Kamsack, Saskatchewan, in a place called Cote First Nation. It is home to Saulteaux people, related to Ojibway. When I was a toddler, something happened that would change everything for me. My mother, Charlotte, lived with a man who was fine when he was sober but very mean when he was drinking. When I was almost four years old, my mother died at his hands.
I was old enough to see and know what had happened. My grandfather came to check on us the next day and found my two younger sisters and me hiding under the kitchen table.
I was traumatized. I think I just wandered...