I was raised and taken by my grandparents when I was just nine months old. During the years, growing up with my grandmother she never spoke English so I learned the language right from when I was a baby. The women that raised me taught me all the things I know today.
But during the school years, I was never allowed to speak my native language as we were punished for speaking our own language while in residential school. However, being out of school after grade eight I did not lose all the language.
I spent a lot of years with my grandparents after school in the Hesquiaht community speaking our native language and practicing our culture but I still need to learn more of our history, culture, songs as well as our language. What I know about the culture, the language, and family connections I teach my children.