Julian Brave Noisecat’s 'We Survived the Night' is part memoir, part Native history
On NPR's Book of the Day, Julian Brave Noisecat shares his family's experiences with Canada's residential school system, including his father's discovery as a newborn in a boarding school incinerator in 1959. The story traces how his father became the first person on their reserve to avoid attending residential school, breaking a pattern that had affected generations of Indigenous families, including Brave Noisecat's grandmother.
The episode explores how Indigenous mythology and storytelling provide unique perspectives on human experiences, particularly through the lens of the coyote trickster figure. Brave Noisecat also discusses the role of family in preserving cultural identity, including how his non-indigenous mother learned traditional beadwork to help maintain his connection to his heritage after his parents' separation.
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Personal and Family History: Brave Noisecat's Father's Unusual Birth Circumstances
In a remarkable story of survival, Julian Brave Noisecat's father, Ed, was discovered as a newborn in 1959 in an incinerator at a Catholic-run Indian boarding school in British Columbia. His cat-like cries led to the family name "Noise Cat," though the name actually originated as a mistranslation of the ancestral Salish name "Nuiiskit." Ed later became the first person on the Canem Lake Reserve to avoid attending residential school, breaking a cycle of family disruption.
Impact of Residential Schools and Colonialism on Indigenous Families
The devastating effects of residential schools on Indigenous communities are exemplified through Brave Noisecat's family story. Both his grandmother and father were sent to St. Joseph's Mission, demonstrating the generational impact of these institutions. Brave Noisecat's documentary film "Sugar Cane" brings these issues to light, revealing the discovery of over 200 children's remains at a former residential school in Canada.
Indigenous Mythology: Coyote Trickster and Cultural Experiences
In his book, Brave Noisecat draws parallels between the mythological coyote trickster figure and his father's nature. He argues that indigenous storytelling, particularly these coyote stories, offers valuable insights that Western social sciences have often overlooked. These stories, he suggests, continue to provide relevant understanding of human experiences.
Family and Cultural Connection: Impact of Noisecat's Non-indigenous Mother
Despite being non-indigenous, Brave Noisecat's mother played a crucial role in maintaining his cultural connections after separating from his father. She learned beadwork to create traditional powwow regalia for her son, demonstrating how family support can be vital in preserving cultural identity, regardless of personal background.
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Actionables
- Explore your family's history to understand generational impacts by starting a genealogy project using online resources and local archives. This can help you uncover stories and patterns that have shaped your family, much like the historical insights Brave Noisecat gained. For example, you might find military service records, immigration documents, or old newspaper articles that reveal struggles and triumphs of your ancestors.
- Engage with indigenous storytelling by reading collections of native folklore available at your local library or bookstore. This can broaden your perspective on human experiences, similar to how coyote stories offer a different understanding. You could start with a book of Native American tales and reflect on the morals and lessons they convey.
- Support cultural preservation by learning a traditional craft or skill from a culture you're interested in, akin to how Brave Noisecat's mother learned beadwork. You could take a class on traditional weaving, pottery, or even a language course to connect with and help sustain cultural practices. This not only enriches your own life but also contributes to keeping these traditions alive for future generations.
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Personal and Family History: Brave Noisecat's Father's Unusual Birth Circumstances
The incredible survival story of Brave Noisecat's father, Ed, highlights the family's resilience and the tragic history of indigenous communities in Canada.
Brave Noisecat's Father, Ed, Found As a Newborn in a Residential School's Incinerator, His Cries Likened To a Cat's, Inspiring the Family's Unusual Last Name
In August 1959, Ed was discovered as a newborn by a watchman who heard crying from the incinerator at a Catholic-run Indian boarding school in British Columbia. Remarkably saved at his birth, Ed's cries were likened to the noise of a cat, an event that would come to influence the family's distinctive last name, Noise Cat.
"Mistranslation 'Noise Cat' Symbolizes Ancestral Salish Survival Story"
However, the last name Noise Cat didn’t originate from this event. It was a mistranslation by missionaries of the ancestral Salish name Nuiiskit. Over time, the name "Noise Cat" found its own meaning and became a potent symbol for the family’s story of survival amidst the hardships faced by Indigenous peoples.
Brave Noisecat's Father Was the First on the Canem Lake Reserve to Avoid Residential School, Ending the Cycle of Disrupted Families
Ed was the first generation on the Canem Lake Indian Reserve who did not attend St. Joseph's Mission, marking the end of ...
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Personal and Family History: Brave Noisecat's Father's Unusual Birth Circumstances
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Actionables
- You can explore your family history to uncover and document stories of resilience and survival. Start by interviewing older relatives and recording their accounts, then visit local archives or use online genealogy services to trace your lineage. This can help you understand your roots and the strength that has been passed down through generations.
- Create a piece of art or write a story that symbolizes your family's journey and the challenges they've overcome. Use symbols, metaphors, or narratives that resonate with your heritage, much like the Noise Cat name became a symbol for Brave Noisecat's family. This can be a personal project or something you share with others to celebrate your family's legacy.
- Engage in community discussions or online foru ...
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Impact of Residential Schools and Colonialism on Indigenous Families and Communities
The legacy of residential schools continues to shadow the lives of Indigenous families and communities, leaving a trail of cultural devastation and familial disruption. Julian Brave NoiseCat's family story is an exemplar of this intergenerational trauma.
Residential Schools Devastated Indigenous Cultures and Families
The fundamental family structures of Indigenous peoples were systematically undermined by the forced removal of their children to residential schools. Such institutions aimed to assimilate Indigenous children into dominant cultural paradigms by depriving them of their languages, customs, and familial bonds.
Brave Noisecat's Grandmother and Father Were Sent To the Same Residential School, Exemplifying Indigenous Family Disruptions
Brave Noisecat's documentary film "Sugar Cane" highlights the painful and personal impact of this practice by detailing his own family's experience. Both his grandmother and father were sent to St. Joseph's Mission, demonstrating the generational disruptions Indigenous families faced because of these schools. With each generation, the connection to their heritage was progressively strained, weakening the lineage and integrity of Indigenous communities.
Silence and Ignorance of Residential School Atrocities Persist
Despite the growing awareness of the historical injustices suffered by Indigenous peoples, there still remains a substantial lack of knowledge and understanding of the atrocities associated with residential schools.
Film "Sugar Cane" ...
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Impact of Residential Schools and Colonialism on Indigenous Families and Communities
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can deepen your understanding of Indigenous history by reading a book written by an Indigenous author each month. This habit will expose you to various Indigenous perspectives and histories, potentially including those affected by residential schools. For example, start with "The Inconvenient Indian" by Thomas King, which provides a broad understanding of Native American history and contemporary issues.
- Create a personal "reflection journal" where you dedicate time weekly to write about how historical events have shaped present-day societies. This practice can help you reflect on the long-term effects of policies like residential schools on Indigenous communities. You might explore themes like intergenerational trauma and cultural resilience, drawing parallels with other historical events to broaden your perspective.
- Volunteer your time with a local Indigenous-le ...
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Indigenous Mythology: Coyote Trickster and Cultural Experiences
In his book, Julian Brave Noisecat weaves indigenous mythology about the coyote into the fabric of his storytelling, drawing parallels between this ancestral trickster and his own father.
Brave Noisecat Finds Parallels in Coyote Myths and His Father's Trickster Nature
Noisecat narrates the lore of the coyote, a figure revered both as a creator and as a source of chaos, mirroring the complex relationship he shares with his father. He recounts how the introduction of the first white man to his people's lands was interpreted as the return of the trickster coyote, a narrative that deeply ties into the historical and personal experiences of his community.
Brave Noisecat: Indigenous Storytelling Offers Valuable Human Insights Ignored by Western Social Sciences
Noisecat: Centering Indigenous Perspectives Enriches World Understanding
Julian Brave Noisecat insists that incorporating indigenous perspe ...
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Indigenous Mythology: Coyote Trickster and Cultural Experiences
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Actionables
- You can explore the role of storytelling in your own family by recording conversations with relatives about family history and folklore. This activity helps you understand the personal and cultural narratives that have shaped your family, much like Noisecat's exploration of coyote myths. For example, ask your grandparents to share stories from their youth and look for recurring themes or characters that might serve a similar role to the coyote in indigenous mythology.
- Start a personal journal where you reflect on the 'trickster' elements in your life, identifying situations where chaos led to creation or learning. This practice encourages you to reframe challenges as opportunities for growth, akin to the duality of the coyote as both creator and disruptor. For instance, write about a time when a mistake at work led to an unexpected success or innovation.
- Engage with lo ...
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Family and Cultural Connection: Impact of Noisecat's Non-indigenous Mother
Julian Brave Noisecat's upbringing provides a powerful example of how family support can play a pivotal role in maintaining cultural connections, even in the face of complex identity issues.
Though His Mother Was Non-indigenous, Brave Noisecat Maintained His Connection to His Indigenous Heritage and Culture
Brave Noisecat's Mother Learned Beadwork to Ensure He Had Powwow Regalia, Preserving Cultural Identity
Despite her non-native background, Julian Brave Noisecat's mother was central in fostering his connection to his Indigenous culture. After splitting from NoiseCat's father, she made consistent efforts to keep him linked to his heritage. This commitment included learning the art of beadwork to ensure her son could have his own traditional powwow regalia for dancing. The act of making regalia went beyond a simple gesture; it was a profound way to uphold and celebrate their familial ties to Indigenous identity and practices.
Mother's Influence Represents Complexity of Brave Noisecat's Identity and Upbringing
The involvement of Julian Brave Noisecat's mother in his cultural education is ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Family and Cultural Connection: Impact of Noisecat's Non-indigenous Mother
Additional Materials
Actionables
- Create a family heritage scrapbook to visually document your cultural background and personal history. Start by collecting photos, traditional recipes, stories, and artifacts from your family. This scrapbook becomes a tangible way to connect with your roots and can be shared with future generations to maintain cultural continuity.
- Learn a cultural craft or skill that is part of your heritage, such as knitting, woodworking, or cooking traditional dishes. By practicing this skill regularly, you not only honor your ancestors but also develop a deeper personal connection to your cultural identity. Share your progress and finished projects on social media to engage with others who share your cultural background.
- Record oral histories with older family ...
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1-Page Summary- Personal and Family History: Brave Noisecat's Father's Unusual Birth Circumstances
- Impact of Residential Schools and Colonialism on Indigenous Families and Communities
- Indigenous Mythology: Coyote Trickster and Cultural Experiences
- Family and Cultural Connection: Impact of Noisecat's Non-indigenous Mother
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