The Truth and Reconciliation Commisssion is holding a second day of hearings in North Battleford today.
This morning, North Battleford TRC hearings co-ordinator Sonia Whitecalf told her story.
Whitecalf said residential schools affected generations of people, including her family.
Her mother died young and her dad was an alcoholic.
As a result, she ended up in six foster homes by the age of four.
Whitecalf testified she was confused and thought she was crazy.
She also said she was raped and tried to kill herself:
“I took a knife, and that was my plan — I was going to stab my heart with this knife.”
Whitecalf credits the love of her sister and others, plus the help of counsellors, for changing her life around.