Shelley Chester 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 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.
- Shelley Chester is a member of Ditidaht First Nation.
- Shelley’s mother, Phyllis Tate, had to give her up for adoption to relatives shortly after her birth.
- She describes how she felt when she received her mother’s paintings.
Shelley Chester is a member of Ditidaht First Nation.
In this oral history interview, Shelley discusses how her mother, Phyllis Tate, had given her up for adoption to relatives. Shelley grew up believing her mother was her aunt, and only learned the truth shortly after her passing.
Shelley describes the emotions she experienced when she was given her mother’s paintings and how she felt connected to parts of her mother’s life.
Shelley Chester is a member of Ditidaht First Nation.
In this oral history interview, Shelley discusses how her mother, Phyllis Tate, had given her up for adoption to relatives. Shelley grew up believing her mother was her aunt, and only learned the truth shortly after her passing.
Shelley describes the emotions she experienced when she was given her mother’s paintings and how she felt connected to parts of her mother’s life.
“It was exciting to actually touch the paintings, to touch something she had touched, 50 years after the fact. I’ve got copies in my home and they’re hanging everywhere.”
- Shelley Chester is a member of Ditidaht First Nation.
- Shelley’s mother, Phyllis Tate, had to give her up for adoption to relatives shortly after her birth.
- She describes how she felt when she received her mother’s paintings.
Shelley Chester is a member of Ditidaht First Nation.
In this oral history interview, Shelley discusses how her mother, Phyllis Tate, had given her up for adoption to relatives. Shelley grew up believing her mother was her aunt, and only learned the truth shortly after her passing.
Shelley describes the emotions she experienced when she was given her mother’s paintings and how she felt connected to parts of her mother’s life.
Shelley Chester is a member of Ditidaht First Nation.
In this oral history interview, Shelley discusses how her mother, Phyllis Tate, had given her up for adoption to relatives. Shelley grew up believing her mother was her aunt, and only learned the truth shortly after her passing.
Shelley describes the emotions she experienced when she was given her mother’s paintings and how she felt connected to parts of her mother’s life.
“It was exciting to actually touch the paintings, to touch something she had touched, 50 years after the fact. I’ve got copies in my home and they’re hanging everywhere.”
Summary
- Shelley Chester is a member of Ditidaht First Nation.
- Shelley’s mother, Phyllis Tate, had to give her up for adoption to relatives shortly after her birth.
- She describes how she felt when she received her mother’s paintings.
Essential
Shelley Chester is a member of Ditidaht First Nation.
In this oral history interview, Shelley discusses how her mother, Phyllis Tate, had given her up for adoption to relatives. Shelley grew up believing her mother was her aunt, and only learned the truth shortly after her passing.
Shelley describes the emotions she experienced when she was given her mother’s paintings and how she felt connected to parts of her mother’s life.
In-Depth
Shelley Chester is a member of Ditidaht First Nation.
In this oral history interview, Shelley discusses how her mother, Phyllis Tate, had given her up for adoption to relatives. Shelley grew up believing her mother was her aunt, and only learned the truth shortly after her passing.
Shelley describes the emotions she experienced when she was given her mother’s paintings and how she felt connected to parts of her mother’s life.
“It was exciting to actually touch the paintings, to touch something she had touched, 50 years after the fact. I’ve got copies in my home and they’re hanging everywhere.”