Book
Back to the Red Road : a story of survival, redemption and love / Florence Kaefer and Edward Gamblin.
In 1954, when Florence Kaefer was just 19, she accepted a job as a teacher at Norway House Indian Residential School of Manitoba. Unaware of the difficult conditions the students were enduring, Florence and her fellow teachers nurtured a school full of lonely and homesick young children. Many years later, Florence unexpectedly reconnected with one of her students, Edward Gamblin. Edward found success and solace in his career as a musician, writing songs about the many political issues facing Aboriginal people in Canada. She was captivated by his voice, but shocked to hear him singing about the abuse he and the other children had been subjected to at Norway House.
Record details
- ISBN: 9781927575376 (pbk.)
- Physical Description: 207 p. : ill., ports. ; 23 cm.
- Publisher: Halfmoon Bay, BC : Caitlin Press Inc., 2014.
Content descriptions
- Bibliography, etc. Note:
- Includes bibliographical references.
- Formatted Contents Note:
- Florence's story : the last breath -- Florence's story : distant running -- Florence's story : our new school -- Florence's story : a star is born -- Florence's story : sniffling and tiny sobs -- Edward's story : scenario that never left -- Edward's story : my mind goes back -- Florence's story : Peter and Shirley -- Florence's story : the strap -- Florence's story : freedom and prison -- Florence's story : going back -- Florence's story : finding Edward's teachers -- Florence's story : time and distance -- Florence's story : the healing circle -- Florence's story : Aurelia and Edward come to visit -- Florence's story : interviewed by CBC Radio -- Florence's story : government apologies -- Florence's story : the bell -- Florence's story : fourth son -- Edward's story : my people -- Florence's story : Edward's heroes -- Florence's story : warriors -- Florence's story : holding my feather -- Florence's story : survivors -- Florence's story : visiting Aurelia -- Florence's story : look up and see the eagles -- Florence's story : a dream catcher -- Florence's story : a voice would speak to me -- Florence's story : "Later." "Later." Florence's story : the owl -- Florence's story : flowers around you -- Florence's story : reverent drums -- Epilogue -- Operational history of Norway House -- Indian residential school -- Norway House Indian Residential School -- Timeline of operations.
Search for related items by subject
- Subject:
- Kaefer, Florence, 1935-
Gamblin, Edward.
Norway House Indian Residential School (Norway House, Man.) > History.
Indians of North America > Manitoba > Residential schools.
Abused Indian children > Manitoba.
Cree Indians > Education > Manitoba.
Teachers > Manitoba > Biography.
Native musicians > Canada > Biography.
Cree Indians > Biography.
Available copies
- 1 of 1 copy available at College of the Rockies.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Circulation Modifier | Holdable? | Status | Due Date | Courses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cranbrook Campus | E 96.65 .M35 K33 2014 (Text) | 31111000145340 | CRANBROOK | Volume hold | Available | - |
At age five, in 1954, Edward Gamblin was sent to the United Church Residential School in Norway House and then to the Residential School in Portage la Prairie, where he continued until Grade 10. He left school at sixteen, but went back to finish Grade 12 and then carried on to the University of Manitoba. Edward became an addictions counsellor and a band counsellor, but most of all he was a musician. He sang for his people. Edward married Aurelia Monias in 1970 and they had six children.He died on July 27, 2010, just months after his beloved Aurelia. Florence Kaefer (nee Pockett) was born in Spirit River, Alberta, in 1935. Florence graduated from Normal School in Tuxedo, Manitoba, in June 1954. For her first three years of teaching, she taught at the United Church Indian Residential School in Norway House, Manitoba; she taught for another three years at the United Church Residential School in Port Alberni, BC, where she met and married Gerd Kaefer, also a teacher. They had two sons, Ian and Glenn. In 1990, Florence completed thirty years of teaching in Courtenay, BC, where she still lives.