In 1995 I moved with my family to Goose Bay. I had decided to enroll in ABE to try to finish my education. In Goose Bay, I could no longer do the things I loved–no more fishing and hunting and traveling on the land.

In the more urban setting of Goose Bay, there were cultural differences and lots of expenses.

With a family of seven (and maybe I can count myself as two persons because of my size), it was very hard to keep food on the table. There were car loans and insurance for the car. Everything the children did I had to pay for–minor hockey, soccer, games, swimming. They all required money that I didn’t have because I was on a fixed income. Going back to school at the age of 33 brought a lot of gray hairs. It was hard to live up to family responsibilities with the sudden difference in income. For 17 years, I’d worked for the band council and Innu Nation. I was used to making a decent living.