It was only at the age of 30 that residential school survivor Noella Mckenzie was finally able to experience a real traditional Innu Christmas with her family.
Noella Mckenzie, 72, a native of Maliotenam, is a residential school survivor.
She says she didn't experience many traditional Christmases, since she wasn't with her family. During her years at residential school, she experienced celebrations that did not correspond to Indigenous values.
“I didn’t experience an authentic Christmas like my ancestors,” she says. “But I experienced a Christmas in the forest with my family,” she remembers.
That moment came around the age of about thirty. She and her family went to the forest to celebrate a Christmas with Innu values.
Noella Mckenzie clarifies that there were no gifts. A simple Christmas.
“We lived a simple life,” she says. “It was better than today. More united, lots of sharing, we had everything we needed to celebrate in simplicity and love.”
Traditional meal, Innu songs, family hunting and New Year's Eve in a tent in the forest were on the program.
“Our parents sang Christmas carols in Innu,” says the lady. “Afterwards, it was New Year's Eve with everything my parents had killed during the fall. »
Beaver, dried meat, caribou, caribou fat, white partridge and bannock were on the menu. The meal took place under the tent, by candlelight.
“How good it was to eat on Christmas Eve!” The food was well prepared and everything was delicious,” she says. “God I loved that. I miss it. »
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