Mark Atleo oral history
Video
Image
Video
Audio
Activities
Think
Now that you have listened to the stories of these Survivors and explored the art they produced during their time at residential school, reflect on how these stories and artworks have changed you.
What does it mean to you to have heard these individual stories and truths?
What kind of feelings and emotions are you experiencing? Are you inspired? Angry? Shocked? Ashamed? Sad?
How might these feelings inspire you to act or think differently about Canada and reconciliation?
Do
Consider a way to share what you have witnessed through looking at the art and watching the Survivor’s video.
Share what you have witnessed with a friend or family member.
Write a paragraph or journal entry about what you have seen, felt and heard while listening to the Survivors’ stories.
Create a piece of art that responds to what you have witnessed.
Details
Historical Context
Choose one of the three levels below to match your needs.
- Mark Atleo is a member of the Ahousaht First Nation.
- In this interview, he talks about his life before residential school, and his parents’ teachings about the natural world.
- He describes the pain of his school experience and how it lasted into his adult years.
- The return of his painting helped heal many parts of his life, including his relationship with his son.
Mark Atleo is a member of the Ahousaht First Nation.
In this oral history interview, Mark talks about his life before going to residential school. He describes his parents’ teachings around fishing and the connections between humans and the natural world.
He also talks about his experiences at the Alberni Indian Residential School, including the abuse he suffered. He turned to alcohol as an adult to cope with the pain associated with those memories.
His painting reminded him of what he was before he went to the school: a fisherman.
Mark Atleo is a member of the Ahousaht First Nation.
In this oral history interview, Mark talks about his life before going to residential school. He describes his parents’ teachings around fishing and the connections between humans and the natural world. All living things, they taught him, have the right to be respected and cared for.
He also talks about his experiences at the Alberni Indian Residential School, including how he played sports to hide from a teacher who abused him. As an adult, he turned to alcohol in his attempts to cope with his experiences.
His painting reminded him of what he was before he went to the school: a fisherman. He also talks about the power of the return ceremony of the painting, and how it has helped him reconnect with his son.
“That was part of my healing, getting it back. It’s your life taken away and they sort of give it back to you when they give it to you, return your property to you. And I am alive today. More alive today since that return. I’m a lot stronger person, I think, anyway.”
- Mark Atleo is a member of the Ahousaht First Nation.
- In this interview, he talks about his life before residential school, and his parents’ teachings about the natural world.
- He describes the pain of his school experience and how it lasted into his adult years.
- The return of his painting helped heal many parts of his life, including his relationship with his son.
Mark Atleo is a member of the Ahousaht First Nation.
In this oral history interview, Mark talks about his life before going to residential school. He describes his parents’ teachings around fishing and the connections between humans and the natural world.
He also talks about his experiences at the Alberni Indian Residential School, including the abuse he suffered. He turned to alcohol as an adult to cope with the pain associated with those memories.
His painting reminded him of what he was before he went to the school: a fisherman.
Mark Atleo is a member of the Ahousaht First Nation.
In this oral history interview, Mark talks about his life before going to residential school. He describes his parents’ teachings around fishing and the connections between humans and the natural world. All living things, they taught him, have the right to be respected and cared for.
He also talks about his experiences at the Alberni Indian Residential School, including how he played sports to hide from a teacher who abused him. As an adult, he turned to alcohol in his attempts to cope with his experiences.
His painting reminded him of what he was before he went to the school: a fisherman. He also talks about the power of the return ceremony of the painting, and how it has helped him reconnect with his son.
“That was part of my healing, getting it back. It’s your life taken away and they sort of give it back to you when they give it to you, return your property to you. And I am alive today. More alive today since that return. I’m a lot stronger person, I think, anyway.”
Summary
- Mark Atleo is a member of the Ahousaht First Nation.
- In this interview, he talks about his life before residential school, and his parents’ teachings about the natural world.
- He describes the pain of his school experience and how it lasted into his adult years.
- The return of his painting helped heal many parts of his life, including his relationship with his son.
Essential
Mark Atleo is a member of the Ahousaht First Nation.
In this oral history interview, Mark talks about his life before going to residential school. He describes his parents’ teachings around fishing and the connections between humans and the natural world.
He also talks about his experiences at the Alberni Indian Residential School, including the abuse he suffered. He turned to alcohol as an adult to cope with the pain associated with those memories.
His painting reminded him of what he was before he went to the school: a fisherman.
In-Depth
Mark Atleo is a member of the Ahousaht First Nation.
In this oral history interview, Mark talks about his life before going to residential school. He describes his parents’ teachings around fishing and the connections between humans and the natural world. All living things, they taught him, have the right to be respected and cared for.
He also talks about his experiences at the Alberni Indian Residential School, including how he played sports to hide from a teacher who abused him. As an adult, he turned to alcohol in his attempts to cope with his experiences.
His painting reminded him of what he was before he went to the school: a fisherman. He also talks about the power of the return ceremony of the painting, and how it has helped him reconnect with his son.
“That was part of my healing, getting it back. It’s your life taken away and they sort of give it back to you when they give it to you, return your property to you. And I am alive today. More alive today since that return. I’m a lot stronger person, I think, anyway.”