Treaty Ten News - Jacquie Bouvier - Metis-Dene-Cree Survivor of the Beauval and Ile a la Crosse Residential Schools

Jacquie Bouvier travelled to the La Plonge cemetery where the former Beauval Indian Residential School was located. The discovery of 93 potential unmarked graves and the continued search and research at this location are very close to Jacquie’s home and her story. A promise made to her mother Elizabeth, that she must find where her two baby sisters were buried.

As a member of the Circle of Survivors of the National Advisory Committee on Missing Children and Unmarked Burials and her own experiences as a youth councillor, she supports the community engagement that the English River First Nation Committee organized to coincide with the search for answers and stories.

Her journey has been filled with emotions, relationships, humour, curiosity and love. Sharing stories and kinships as the community members participated in the search. Reminiscing on the family life in Beauval with the trauma of losing a father at an early age and subsequent challenges that led to a decision to move to the city of Saskatoon in 1964.  Jacquie speaks on how help from Elders and organizations such as Friendship Centres have guided her in dealing with addictions and childhood trauma while living in large urban centers.

(Jacquie Bouvier is a 70-year-old third-generation residential school survivor. She has mixed Métis and Dene heritage. She attended the Beauval Mission School where she suffered abuse. Her father worked for the Beauval Mission School. Her mother was Dene and Métis. Ms. Bouvier currently works in the Greater Vancouver area and has worked for Family Services, working with youth who are aging out of care.)

Source: https://nac-cnn.ca/meet-the-committee-members/