Theodore Niizhotay Fontaine - Broken Circle: The Dark Legacy of Indian Residential Schools—Commemorative Edition

Since its original publication in 2010, Broken Circle: The Dark Legacy of Indian Residential Schools has served as a pathway for Survivors of residential school abuse to share their experiences and support their own healing journeys. For more than a decade, Theodore Niizhotay Fontaine presented his book and his story to audiences across Canada and the United States.

Through heartbreaking honesty and hard-earned wisdom, Fontaine chronicled the twelve painful years he spent at Fort Alexander and Assiniboia Indian Residential Schools in Manitoba, which robbed him of his childhood and isolated him from his culture, language, family, and community. He looked beyond the psychological, emotional, and sexual abuse that he suffered at the schools; explored the devastating effects of post-traumatic stress and intergenerational trauma; and infused his remembrances with insights gained through his long healing process.

In this new, expanded commemorative edition, Broken Circle pays tribute to the remarkable life and spirit of Theodore Niizhotay Fontaine. With a foreword by Andrew Woolford, professor of sociology and criminology at the University of Manitoba, an introduction by Charlene Diehl, director of the Winnipeg International Writers Festival, and dozens of photographs from Fontaines life, this important memoir will continue to serve as a powerful testament to survival, self-discovery, and reconciliation for years to come.

Masterful writing by a brother who is a gifted storyteller. Theodore Fontaine recounts his life in a voice that is at once enlightening and healing, by virtue of its elegant simplicity, beauty and compassion. The world needs more of your work, Theodore!

darrel j. mcleod Governor Generals Awardwinning author of Mamaskatch: A Cree Coming of Age and Peyakow: Reclaiming Cree Dignity

Theodore Fontaine worked tirelessly to lead Canadians on a pathway to reconciliation, and this devastating, vitally important memoir now stands as a documentation of his courage. These pages are filled with truth we cannot look away from, and in that truth, ultimately, a way to mend the brokenness.

david a. robertson award-winning author of Black Water: Family, Legacy, and Blood Memory and On the Trapline

Thousands of Indian Residential School Survivors came before our Truth and Reconciliation Commission with no intention of talking about childhoods they wanted to forget. Courage on display changed their minds. Ted Fontaine helped them along with Broken Circle, his inspirational journey from a tsunami of anger and grief to reclaimed pride and hope for future generations.

marie wilson Commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, 200915

Theodore Fontaine has written a testimony that should be mandatory reading for everyone out there who has ever wondered, Why cant Aboriginal people just get over Residential Schools? Mr. Fontaines life story is filled with astonishing and brutal chapters, but, through it all, time, healing, crying, writing, friends and family, and lovesweet lovehave all graced their way into the man, father, son, brother, husband and child of wonder Theodore has always deserved to be. What a humbling work to read. Im grateful he wrote it and had the courage to share it. Mahsi cho.

richard van camp award-winning author of Moccasin Square Gardens

Too many Survivors of Canadas Indian residential schools live to forget. Theodore Fontaine writes to remember. Its taken a lifetime to make peace with the pain, shame and fear inflicted upon a little boy wrenched from his family when he was only seven. Ted hasnt forgotten, but he has forgiven. This is what makes his voyage of self-discovery so compelling. This memoir is a life lesson about hope, healing and happiness.

hana gartner cbcs The Fifth Estate

Broken Circle takes readers by the hand and walks us through the lonely corridors of Fort Alexander Indian Residential School. Mr. Fontaine discloses how the trauma he suffered as a result of his incarceration in Canadas Indian residential school system has affected him throughout his life. What I find remarkable about his memoir is the generosity, bravery and open-heartedness with which he shares these sometimes joyous, sometimes painful moments of his life. In the spirit of reconciliation, Mr. Fontaine brings us to his own healing. And in this way he has added to the healing of us all.

kevin loring author of Where the Blood Mixes, winner of Governor Generals Literary Award for Drama

Theodore Fontaine shares his journey with generosity, humility and raw (and often devastating) transparency. Fontaines pre-internment memories of a childhood steeped in tradition, connection, and joy are recalled alongside the profound loss and trauma suffered through imprisonment at residential school. In generously sharing his story of loss, indomitability and healing, Ted has provided an invaluable giftBroken Circle is a testimony that must be read and re-read.

dr. carlos d. colorado professor and filmmaker

This book is essential reading for all Canadians. Theodore Fontaines willingness to share his very personal experiences through residential school and beyond provides such an opportunity for learning, understanding and growth. Theodore continues to be a guiding light, with his exceptional ability to educate the travesties of the past, while offering a pathway to healing. He was truly a gifted individual.

christy dzikowicz Executive Director for the Toba Centre for Children and Youth

Theo Fontaines book is beautifully written, disturbing and yet hopeful. Theo and I went through terrible experiences which were different and yet had many communalities. By exposing the guilty parties, he makes us aware of our communal responsibility to create a climate of restitution and

healing for the Indigenous Peoples. Theo and I participated in a number of events, and we resolved to direct our past experiences, our anger and our remaining energies towards mutual understanding and mutual acceptance of each other in a peaceful and lawful world devoid of hatred, discrimination and antisemitism.

nathan leipciger Holocaust educator, public speaker and author of The Weight of Freedom

A poignant glimpse into the day-to-day horror of life in an Indian residential school, and the power of love to tame the demons that torment those who were incarcerated in them. A must-read for anyone responsible for advancing reconciliation, meaning every single Canadian, whether Indigenous or non-Indigenous, whether born here or elsewhere.

suzanne carrire , Canadas first Mtis citizenship judge

Broken Circle is a life story of Mr. Fontaine and he said it like it was; his personal story affirms the tragedy that occurred during this era and the impacts it has on our Indigenous people today. Mr. Fontaines humbleness and care for his people was remarkable and no words will ever express what he meant to his people on Turtle Island.

chief derrick henderson , Sagkeeng First Nation

I have witnessed the powerful way that high school students from across Canada connect with Theodore Niizhotay Fontaines memoir, Broken Circle. Through his life story, Fontaine invites young people to face the truth about Canadas past. His writing inspires us all to not only confront the past, but to work to bring about the changes that are so desperately needed today.