1
00:00:00,933 --> 00:00:01,900
>> Hill: WE'VE BEEN BRINGING YOU

2
00:00:01,900 --> 00:00:03,733
A SERIES OF STORIES TOLD BY

3
00:00:03,733 --> 00:00:05,033
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE FROM

4
00:00:05,033 --> 00:00:06,300
YELLOWKNIFE IN CANADA'S

5
00:00:06,300 --> 00:00:08,033
NORTHWEST TERRITORY.

6
00:00:08,033 --> 00:00:09,433
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GLOBAL

7
00:00:09,433 --> 00:00:10,866
REPORTING CENTER, THEY'RE

8
00:00:10,866 --> 00:00:12,666
SHARING THEIR STORIES OF LIFE,

9
00:00:12,666 --> 00:00:14,366
ADDICTION AND RECOVERY.

10
00:00:14,366 --> 00:00:16,033
DONALD PRINCE IS A COUNSELOR AND

11
00:00:16,033 --> 00:00:18,233
THE FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF

12
00:00:18,233 --> 00:00:19,700
THE ARCTIC INDIGENOUS WELLNESS

13
00:00:19,700 --> 00:00:20,866
FOUNDATION.

14
00:00:20,866 --> 00:00:22,566
IN THIS FIRST PERSON STORY, HE

15
00:00:22,566 --> 00:00:25,033
SHARES HIS PAST EXPERIENCES WITH

16
00:00:25,033 --> 00:00:27,033
VIOLENCE, THE JUSTICE SYSTEM,

17
00:00:27,033 --> 00:00:28,566
AND ADDICTION; AND HOW BEING A

18
00:00:28,566 --> 00:00:30,533
FATHER AND WRITING POETRY WERE

19
00:00:30,533 --> 00:00:32,166
CRUCIAL STEPS TOWARDS HIS

20
00:00:32,166 --> 00:00:36,066
HEALING.

21
00:00:36,066 --> 00:00:41,666
♪ ♪ ♪

22
00:00:41,666 --> 00:00:42,833
>> I WALKED THROUGH THE EMPTY

23
00:00:42,833 --> 00:00:44,100
CITY.

24
00:00:44,100 --> 00:00:46,633
MY SOUL IS HURT AND TORN.

25
00:00:46,633 --> 00:00:48,700
I'M SURROUNDED BY LONELINESS.

26
00:00:48,700 --> 00:00:50,566
WHY WAS I EVEN BORN?

27
00:00:50,566 --> 00:00:52,433
I WISH I COULD FIND A WAY OUT OF

28
00:00:52,433 --> 00:00:54,633
THIS WORLD OF VIOLENCE.

29
00:00:54,633 --> 00:00:56,266
I CRY OUT AT NIGHT AND I HEAR

30
00:00:56,266 --> 00:00:59,800
ONLY THE SILENCE.

31
00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:01,033
I REMEMBER I WAS ABOUT PROBABLY

32
00:01:01,033 --> 00:01:02,066
TEN YEARS OLD, JUST WHEN I

33
00:01:02,066 --> 00:01:03,333
STARTED SCHOOL, I STARTED

34
00:01:03,333 --> 00:01:04,766
DRINKING.

35
00:01:04,766 --> 00:01:07,566
THE FEELINGS OF FEAR AND

36
00:01:07,566 --> 00:01:09,566
INSECURITY AND NOT FEELING A

37
00:01:09,566 --> 00:01:12,766
PART OF, AND... ALL THIS OTHER

38
00:01:12,766 --> 00:01:14,466
STUFF, SORT OF, WENT AWAY WHEN I

39
00:01:14,466 --> 00:01:15,800
DRANK.

40
00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:16,766
FIGHTS, I REMEMBER A LOT OF

41
00:01:16,766 --> 00:01:17,766
FIGHTS.

42
00:01:17,766 --> 00:01:19,266
MY DAD WAS A BIG GUY, SO HE WAS

43
00:01:19,266 --> 00:01:20,800
ALWAYS SCREAMING AND YELLING AND

44
00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:23,266
DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT, THE

45
00:01:23,266 --> 00:01:24,633
COPS COMING.

46
00:01:24,633 --> 00:01:25,833
REALITY, DIRTY BREATH IN HIS

47
00:01:25,833 --> 00:01:26,766
FACE.

48
00:01:26,766 --> 00:01:28,366
HE'S BACK IN LINE.

49
00:01:28,366 --> 00:01:29,900
THOUGHTS GONE, FOOD'S COMING.

50
00:01:29,900 --> 00:01:31,766
BOY, I'M SURE HUNGRY.

51
00:01:31,766 --> 00:01:33,633
BEEN STANDING IN LINE FOR YEARS.

52
00:01:33,633 --> 00:01:35,833
HOPE THEY DON'T SEE ME.

53
00:01:35,833 --> 00:01:36,933
I USED TO GET PICKED ON IN

54
00:01:36,933 --> 00:01:38,766
SCHOOL BY ALL THESE BULLIES.

55
00:01:38,766 --> 00:01:40,566
THEY USED TO WAIT FOR US.

56
00:01:40,566 --> 00:01:42,466
AND THE BIGGEST GUY, THEY CAME

57
00:01:42,466 --> 00:01:43,733
AFTER ME AND I STABBED HIM IN

58
00:01:43,733 --> 00:01:45,400
THE FACE.

59
00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:47,033
I CUT HIM RIGHT FROM HIS MOUTH

60
00:01:47,033 --> 00:01:49,066
RIGHT UP TO HIS EAR.

61
00:01:49,066 --> 00:01:50,333
THE COPS CAME, THEY PICKED ME UP

62
00:01:50,333 --> 00:01:53,533
THAT NIGHT AND THREW ME IN JAIL.

63
00:01:53,533 --> 00:01:54,833
HE STANDS IN THE LINE AND HIDES

64
00:01:54,833 --> 00:01:56,366
HIS FACE.

65
00:01:56,366 --> 00:01:57,566
KEEPING UP TO THE OTHERS,

66
00:01:57,566 --> 00:02:00,100
DOESN'T LOSE HIS PLACE.

67
00:02:00,100 --> 00:02:01,333
HE STARES AT THE HOLES IN HIS

68
00:02:01,333 --> 00:02:02,466
SHOES.

69
00:02:02,466 --> 00:02:04,833
DIRTY PANTS, STALE SHIRT.

70
00:02:04,833 --> 00:02:06,700
HEY, MOVE IT, BUDDY.

71
00:02:06,700 --> 00:02:07,900
WHAT ARE YOU DREAMING ABOUT,

72
00:02:07,900 --> 00:02:09,600
WINE?

73
00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:12,866
ENDED UP IN JAIL AGAIN, '89, BUT

74
00:02:12,866 --> 00:02:14,333
THESE COUPLE OF GUARDS, THEY

75
00:02:14,333 --> 00:02:16,800
SAID, "PRINCE, WHEN IN THE HELL

76
00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:18,033
ARE YOU GOING TO LEARN, WHEN

77
00:02:18,033 --> 00:02:19,166
YOU'RE GOING TO SMARTEN UP," YOU

78
00:02:19,166 --> 00:02:20,233
KNOW?

79
00:02:20,233 --> 00:02:21,800
I SAID, "YEAH, YEAH, BUT I DON'T

80
00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:23,133
KNOW WHAT THE HELL," I THOUGHT,

81
00:02:23,133 --> 00:02:24,766
"I SEEMED LIKE I CAN'T.

82
00:02:24,766 --> 00:02:25,933
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL'S

83
00:02:25,933 --> 00:02:27,033
GOING ON WITH ME."

84
00:02:27,033 --> 00:02:28,066
SO ANYWAY, ONE OF THEM SAID,

85
00:02:28,066 --> 00:02:29,166
"WELL, WHY DON'T YOU START

86
00:02:29,166 --> 00:02:30,933
WRITING SOME OF THIS STUFF DOWN?

87
00:02:30,933 --> 00:02:33,633
WRITE IT OUT."

88
00:02:33,633 --> 00:02:34,933
AND I THOUGHT, "OKAY."

89
00:02:34,933 --> 00:02:36,100
SO, I WENT BACK AND I STARTED

90
00:02:36,100 --> 00:02:38,233
WRITING, AND I WROTE ABOUT HOW I

91
00:02:38,233 --> 00:02:40,366
FELT ABOUT LOVE AND ABOUT HATE

92
00:02:40,366 --> 00:02:42,833
AND ABOUT ANGER AND WISHING FOR

93
00:02:42,833 --> 00:02:45,166
A BETTER LIFE AND WISHING FOR A

94
00:02:45,166 --> 00:02:46,866
LOVE THAT WAS TRUE OR WISHING

95
00:02:46,866 --> 00:02:49,333
FOR, YOU KNOW, HAVE MY KIDS IN

96
00:02:49,333 --> 00:02:53,766
MY LIFE AND THINGS LIKE THAT,

97
00:02:50,933 --> 00:02:57,566
RIGHT?

98
00:02:57,566 --> 00:02:58,866
WELL, I REMEMBER WHEN MY OLDEST

99
00:02:58,866 --> 00:03:00,433
DAUGHTER, CRYSTAL, WAS BORN, I

100
00:03:00,433 --> 00:03:01,800
JUST HELD HER AND LOOKED AT HER

101
00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:03,666
AND I SAID, "I WILL NEVER DO THE

102
00:03:03,666 --> 00:03:05,200
THINGS TO YOU THAT WERE DONE TO

103
00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:10,033
ME," AND I NEVER DID.

104
00:03:10,033 --> 00:03:12,033
FOR THE FIRST 14, 15 YEARS OF

105
00:03:12,033 --> 00:03:14,033
HER LIFE, I WAS NEVER THERE

106
00:03:14,033 --> 00:03:15,466
MUCH.

107
00:03:15,466 --> 00:03:17,166
ONE TIME PAULA WAS IN JAIL.

108
00:03:17,166 --> 00:03:18,366
THE GUARD COMES UP TO ME AND

109
00:03:18,366 --> 00:03:19,633
SAYS, "YOUR DAUGHTER PHONED,

110
00:03:19,633 --> 00:03:20,866
THERE'S AN EMERGENCY.

111
00:03:20,866 --> 00:03:22,466
SHE SAID THAT AMANDA GOT RUN

112
00:03:22,466 --> 00:03:23,500
OVER."

113
00:03:23,500 --> 00:03:24,933
AMANDA, MY YOUNGER DAUGHTER, SHE

114
00:03:24,933 --> 00:03:26,233
WAS FIVE YEARS OLD.

115
00:03:26,233 --> 00:03:28,166
SO, I'M ON THE PHONE AND I SAID,

116
00:03:28,166 --> 00:03:29,300
"WELL, IS SHE OKAY?"

117
00:03:29,300 --> 00:03:30,400
AND ALL I CAN HEAR IS CRYING ON

118
00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:37,766
THE OTHER END.

119
00:03:32,666 --> 00:03:39,800
AND I THOUGHT, "SHE'S DEAD."

120
00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:45,400
I THOUGHT MY DAUGHTER WAS DEAD.

121
00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:47,500
FINALLY, CRYSTAL WAS ABLE TO

122
00:03:47,500 --> 00:03:49,200
TALK, AND SHE SAID, "NO, SHE'S

123
00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:51,666
IN PRETTY BAD SHAPE, SHE'S IN A

124
00:03:51,666 --> 00:03:52,833
HOSPITAL, BUT SHE'S GOING TO

125
00:03:52,833 --> 00:03:54,733
MAKE IT."

126
00:03:54,733 --> 00:03:55,966
BUT I REMEMBER GOING AND WALKING

127
00:03:55,966 --> 00:03:57,433
AWAY ON THAT PHONE CALL

128
00:03:57,433 --> 00:03:58,700
THINKING, YOU KNOW, "WHAT THE

129
00:03:58,700 --> 00:04:00,166
HELL KIND OF A DAD AM I?"

130
00:04:00,166 --> 00:04:01,500
YOU KNOW, MY KID'S 500 MILES

131
00:04:01,500 --> 00:04:04,200
AWAY, RAN OVER, THE OTHER ONE'S

132
00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:06,166
GETTING IN TROUBLE.

133
00:04:06,166 --> 00:04:08,033
WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH ME?

134
00:04:08,033 --> 00:04:09,233
YOU KNOW, WHY?

135
00:04:09,233 --> 00:04:10,766
WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH ME?

136
00:04:10,766 --> 00:04:12,766
STRANGE, FOOLISH DESIRES.

137
00:04:12,766 --> 00:04:14,300
THEY COME OVER ME.

138
00:04:14,300 --> 00:04:16,333
I FEEL THE CHAINS TIGHTEN.

139
00:04:16,333 --> 00:04:18,400
I AM NO LONGER FREE.

140
00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:19,566
I WENT AND SAW THIS DRUG AND

141
00:04:19,566 --> 00:04:20,766
ALCOHOL COUNSELOR.

142
00:04:20,766 --> 00:04:21,933
HE SAYS, "WELL, I JUST WANT TO

143
00:04:21,933 --> 00:04:24,066
KNOW WHAT PEOPLE DID TO YOU."

144
00:04:24,066 --> 00:04:25,466
I SAID, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?"

145
00:04:25,466 --> 00:04:26,533
HE SAID, "WHAT DID PEOPLE DO TO

146
00:04:26,533 --> 00:04:28,700
YOU WHEN YOU WERE A KID?"

147
00:04:28,700 --> 00:04:31,766
AND HOLY-- THAT BLEW ME AWAY.

148
00:04:31,766 --> 00:04:33,033
YOU KNOW, NOBODY EVER ASKED ME

149
00:04:33,033 --> 00:04:34,300
WHAT HAPPENED TO ME.

150
00:04:34,300 --> 00:04:35,500
YOU KNOW, THEY ALWAYS WANT TO

151
00:04:35,500 --> 00:04:37,566
KNOW WHAT A BAD GUY I WAS.

152
00:04:37,566 --> 00:04:40,933
AND... I LOOK BACK NOW, THAT WAS

153
00:04:40,933 --> 00:04:42,866
THE KEY.

154
00:04:42,866 --> 00:04:48,666
( SIGHS )

155
00:04:48,666 --> 00:04:50,666
THAT WAS THE KEY TO LOCKING

156
00:04:50,666 --> 00:04:52,566
ALL-- UNLOCKING ALL THAT

157
00:04:52,566 --> 00:04:57,466
BITTERNESS AND HATE, ANGER I HAD

158
00:04:57,466 --> 00:04:59,333
FOR THE WORLD.

159
00:04:59,333 --> 00:05:00,500
I HAVEN'T HAD A DRUG OR A DRINK

160
00:05:00,500 --> 00:05:04,733
SINCE.

161
00:05:02,133 --> 00:05:13,833
♪ ♪ ♪

162
00:05:13,833 --> 00:05:15,366
WE PROVIDE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE

163
00:05:15,366 --> 00:05:17,466
CAN GET HELP, WHETHER THAT BE

164
00:05:17,466 --> 00:05:19,033
COUNSELING, OR TRADITIONAL

165
00:05:19,033 --> 00:05:20,433
HEALING, OR TRADITIONAL

166
00:05:20,433 --> 00:05:22,233
MEDICINE, CEREMONIES, DIFFERENT

167
00:05:22,233 --> 00:05:25,033
THINGS LIKE THAT.

168
00:05:25,033 --> 00:05:27,033
WE DON'T FOLLOW ANY WESTERN WAY

169
00:05:27,033 --> 00:05:28,266
OF DOING THINGS, WE DO THINGS

170
00:05:28,266 --> 00:05:30,433
OUR WAY, THE INDIAN WAY.

171
00:05:30,433 --> 00:05:31,866
( LAUGHS )

172
00:05:31,866 --> 00:05:33,500
WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY WHO WORKS

173
00:05:33,500 --> 00:05:36,133
HERE WAS NOT ABORIGINAL.

174
00:05:36,133 --> 00:05:37,400
>> EVERY TRIBE HAS THEIR OWN

175
00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:39,200
MEDICINES AND THEIR OWN LAND,

176
00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:41,133
YOU KNOW, SO WE UTILIZE OUR OWN

177
00:05:41,133 --> 00:05:43,766
MEDICINES HERE.

178
00:05:43,766 --> 00:05:45,100
WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING

179
00:05:45,100 --> 00:05:46,533
THROUGH A LOT OF PAIN AND

180
00:05:46,533 --> 00:05:47,933
THEY'RE FEELING SO GOOD WHEN

181
00:05:47,933 --> 00:05:50,700
THEY LEAVE HERE.

182
00:05:50,700 --> 00:05:52,066
>> WESTERN COUNSELING THE WAY

183
00:05:52,066 --> 00:05:53,766
IT'S SET UP, YOU GOT TO GO INTO

184
00:05:53,766 --> 00:05:55,033
A COUNSELING SESSION.

185
00:05:55,033 --> 00:05:56,466
YOU SPEAK FOR 50 MINUTES OR

186
00:05:56,466 --> 00:05:57,766
SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND THAT'S

187
00:05:57,766 --> 00:06:00,100
IT.

188
00:06:00,100 --> 00:06:02,100
OUT HERE, ANYBODY CAN COME ANY

189
00:06:02,100 --> 00:06:03,433
TIME THEY WANT FOR AS LONG AS

190
00:06:03,433 --> 00:06:04,700
THEY WANT.

191
00:06:04,700 --> 00:06:05,800
TALK WITH SOMEBODY FOR A LITTLE

192
00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:07,100
WHILE, GO HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT,

193
00:06:07,100 --> 00:06:10,866
RELAX A LITTLE BIT, TALK AGAIN.

194
00:06:10,866 --> 00:06:14,600
WHEN PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO BE

195
00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:16,233
WHAT THEY ARE, SAY WHAT THEY

196
00:06:16,233 --> 00:06:18,766
WANT AND DO WHAT THEY WANT,

197
00:06:18,766 --> 00:06:21,566
THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO OPEN UP

198
00:06:21,566 --> 00:06:22,900
ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING ON

199
00:06:22,900 --> 00:06:25,233
WITH THEM.

200
00:06:25,233 --> 00:06:27,000
>> UNLIKE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS,

201
00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:28,500
THESE PEOPLE SAID, "COME ON,

202
00:06:28,500 --> 00:06:29,766
IT'S OKAY IF YOU FALL DOWN.

203
00:06:29,766 --> 00:06:30,966
COME JOIN US, SIT DOWN, HAVE

204
00:06:30,966 --> 00:06:34,100
COFFEE, HAVE TEA."

205
00:06:34,100 --> 00:06:36,233
DONALD IS A NO HOLDS-BARRED

206
00:06:36,233 --> 00:06:37,600
ELDER.

207
00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:39,300
HE'LL TELL YOU EXACTLY THE WAY

208
00:06:39,300 --> 00:06:40,466
IT IS.

209
00:06:40,466 --> 00:06:41,633
HE CARES SO MUCH FOR

210
00:06:41,633 --> 00:06:43,766
INDIVIDUALS.

211
00:06:43,766 --> 00:06:44,966
I LEARNED QUITE A BIT OFF OF

212
00:06:44,966 --> 00:06:46,000
HIM.

213
00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:47,100
I LEARNED HOW TO STAND UP FOR

214
00:06:47,100 --> 00:06:48,100
MYSELF THEN.

215
00:06:48,100 --> 00:06:49,266
GROWING UP IN RESIDENTIAL

216
00:06:49,266 --> 00:06:51,566
SCHOOL, YOUR VOICE, YOUR SPIRIT

217
00:06:51,566 --> 00:06:53,333
IS TAKEN AWAY, BUT WORKING WITH

218
00:06:53,333 --> 00:06:54,800
HIM AND IN THIS CAMP HAS GIVEN

219
00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:58,400
ME MY SPIRIT BACK.

220
00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:00,933
>> WHAT MOTIVATES ME IS SUCCESS,

221
00:07:00,933 --> 00:07:03,700
YOU KNOW, AND SEEING PEOPLE LIKE

222
00:07:03,700 --> 00:07:05,400
STANLEY OR INUK WHO ARE SOBER

223
00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:07,866
TODAY AND THEY HAVE GOOD LIVES.

224
00:07:07,866 --> 00:07:09,233
THEIR KIDS HAVE GOOD LIVES.

225
00:07:09,233 --> 00:07:12,833
THEIR GRANDKIDS HAVE GOOD LIVES.

226
00:07:12,833 --> 00:07:14,400
I'VE LET GO OF THE DARK SIDE.

227
00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:16,333
THERE'S GOING TO BE BETTER DAYS.

228
00:07:16,333 --> 00:07:17,833
THINGS ARE LOOKING BETTER NOW

229
00:07:17,833 --> 00:07:21,666
SINCE I'VE CHANGED MY EVIL WAYS.

230
00:07:21,666 --> 00:07:23,233
SOMETIMES THE TEMPTATION IS NOT

231
00:07:23,233 --> 00:07:24,300
EASY.

232
00:07:24,300 --> 00:07:26,100
IT'S HARD FOR ME TO ABIDE.

233
00:07:26,100 --> 00:07:27,366
BUT I DON'T LET IT GET ME DOWN,

234
00:07:27,366 --> 00:07:29,666
I JUST PUSH IT ALL ASIDE.

235
00:07:29,666 --> 00:07:31,366
I'M FOCUSING ON THE GOOD TIMES

236
00:07:31,366 --> 00:07:33,700
AND KEEPING AN OPEN MIND.

237
00:07:33,700 --> 00:07:35,333
I'M GOING TO LOOK AHEAD OF ME.

238
00:07:35,333 --> 00:07:35,900
THE PAST IS ALL BEHIND.