Episode 5: Interview with Sphenia Jones from Haida Gwaii

Episode 5: Interview with Sphenia Jones from Haida Gwaii

Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32

Sphenia was taken to a residential school in Edmonton at the age of 11 and suffered great abuse there, including having her fingernails pulled out for speaking and singing in Cree. She saw many atrocities done to the other students, which left her grieved and heartbroken. Sphenia remembered the Christian teachings of her grandfather, a lay pastor in Haida Gwaii, and forgave them the best she could.  As an adult, abuses continued with her husband, her son was murdered, and she suffered health issues due to the actions of other people. But Sphenia grew into a very strong Christian and learned how to completely forgive them through Jesus. Sphenia testified at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, is today an actor and activist, and is working to help other Native people heal from their abuses.

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“This is Just What Heaven Means to Me” The Rising Above Band was formed when Pastor Howard Jolly from the Cree nation in Quebec joined with Ontario Cree missionaries Rick, Terry and Brenda Martin.

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