A Canadian residential school survivor, Michael Cheena, recalls how his family did not have a choice to send him to residential school or not. His parents would have been sent to jail if he did not attend. Life at school was strict, and students were harshly disciplined. Cheena recalls the policy of not being allowed to share food with other students. He was caught passing bread to another student and was punished. He later became an alcoholic and contributes the loss of identity, language, and culture to his downward spiral. He eventually became sober and reclaimed his culture.
