Martha Flaherty – Her Story

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In 1955 at the age of five, Martha was relocated from Inukjuak to Grise Fiord with her parents; Josephie and Rynee Flaherty, her sister Mary and brother Peter.

My mom’s life I can’t even describe it because it was horrible. She went through hell. The word hell is not even strong enough to tell you what it was like. She went through so much trying to feed us. Trying to make some clothes out of scraps. She used to be so worried when I had to go out hunting when I was only seven years old. Worrying about me and my father because it was pitch black.”

“Healing is one of the biggest way to get up. You can’t give up. You have to let the pain out even though it’s hard, even if you feel very guilty and embarrassed. Once that is out, you’re going to start feeling better.”

Martha Flaherty – Iqaluit, 2011