The Secret Pocket by Peggy Janicki

Mary's 'Utsoo (grandmother) and 'Utsiyan (grandfather) had a smoke house next to their lake. The smoke house was used to smoke meat, fish, berries and maitlus (a cake made out of berries). 'Utsoo spent so much time in the smoke house tending the fire that she had a pad and pillows to rest on. There was Utsoo's hugs and sweetened tea, and the feeling of being loved.

But at the end of summer, this all changed when one day a priest and nun came to visit their family. Mary and her family were busy fishing at their lake, and she and her brothers and sisters were playing on the beach. It was decided that Mary along with her sister Aggie and her brother James would be sent far from home to Lejac residential school. 

At the school, Mary who was too young to attend Kindergarten, wandered the hallways during class time. She was homesick for 'Uloo, 'Uba, 'Utsoo, and "Utsiyan. She also rarely saw her brother James who lived on the boys side of the school. The were not allowed to speak Dakelh. 

At Lejac, Mary was always hungry and cold. They were taught by the Sisters who were strict and often cruel. Mary was often homesick. Fall, winter, spring and early summer were spent at the Lejac residential school. But when she was home, Mary helped 'Uloo (mother) with mending and learned to sew moccasins together, beading them. Mary's father who was Chief, would visit Lejac to check on his children. These visits had to be arranged ahead of time and Mary and her siblings were given extra food so that it appeared they were being cared for.

But Mary and the other girls found ways to survive. They soon learned that it was fairly easy to take food from the kitchen. Then they had a brilliant idea! With rags from the rag box, Mary and her schoolmates used their sewing skills to sew pockets into their petticoats. The pockets were used to hide the food they took from the kitchen. They took apples, carrots and bread to feed themselves and their school mates. This extra food ensured they had enough to eat and to survive.

Discussion

The Secret Pocket tells how a resilient group of young Indigenous girls, struggling in one of Canada's residential schools came up with a brilliant idea that helped them survive. The author, Margaret (Peggy) Janicki is an award-winning  Dakelh teacher from the Nak'azdli Whut'en First Nation. Her mother, Mary attended Lejac residential school but never spoke about her experiences until later in life. In her Author's Note, Peggy Janicki recounts how her mother shared the story of the secret pocket while recovering from a broken hip. This story has since been gifted to Indigenous graduates at the University of the Fraser Valley in the form of a secret pocket sewn into the stole of each graduate. The secret pocket holds a copy of Mary's story. More about Peggy Janicki can be found at her website.

The Lejac residential school opened in 1922 on the shore of Fraser Lake in British Columbia. It was run by the Oblates of Immaculate Mary and the Sisters of the Child Jesus. The school remained open until 1976. As with many residential schools, former students indicated they were physically and sexually abused, and there were deaths of students at the school as well. In 1937, four young boys froze to death after running away from the school and attempting to make the journey home to the Nadleh reserve.

Mary's story is one of resilience, courage, and perseverance. The Secret Pocket is yet another story that highlights the suffering Indigenous children endured in the Canadian residential school system but more importantly also demonstrates their ingenuity and determination. As Mary reflects back on this period of her life, she notes, "Now as a great-grandmother, I look back at this time and see what sweet little geniuses we were. In the full face of genocide and cruelty, we secured our families' path for generation to come. We sewed our survival into every stitch. We come from a strong line of artists and geniuses, so we stitch with easy skill." In other words, the secret pockets thwarted the goal of assimilation and destruction of the Indigenous culture. It was a fight for their future.

The author includes a Glossary of terms at the back as well as an Author's Note that explains how she came to learn about the secret pocket from her mother. The digital illustrations were done by "Eastern Fraser Valley-based artist Carrielynn Victor who is a descendant of Coast Salish ancestors that have been sustained by S'olh Temexw (their land) since time immemorial and Western European ancestors that settled around Northern Turtle Island beginning in the 1600's."

The Secret Pocket offers Canadian readers of all ages another opportunity to reflect on the history of Canada's residential schools and the chance for all to experience intergenerational healing through the stories of our Indigenous peoples.

Book Details:

The Secret Pocket by Peggy by Janicki
Orca Book Publishers     2023