One incident still haunts me to this day. I used the term “weed out” because it's a military term that I believe is used to describe eliminating people from the ranks of any armed forces across the world.
One individual still haunts me to this day. I use that word compassionately, because they went after him. I remember his first name was Thomas, and he was from Kuujjuaq, I believe; they were just unmerciful to him and to all of us who, at that time, were known as Indians and Eskimos. This poor guy came to me and cried to me, and I couldn't help him because I couldn't help myself with what was going on. This was just happening, one by one, to all the Indian and Inuit veterans who were serving.
I always say that 1982 was the year that Canada's Constitution was repatriated back to Canada. For me, it was a sense of duty to serve my country. You can't serve your country with a criminal record. I didn't have a criminal record when I went into the military, but I sure got one when I came out.
I wasn't the same person I was when I went in, and to some extent I wasn't the same person I am today, but that doesn't mean I'm going to lie down and give up. I struggle at times. I'm coming back all the time.
One of the reasons I can say I'm doing better is because of this person here and her organization. She's helped me and countless other veterans a lot, including non-aboriginal veterans. It's a brotherhood and a sisterhood when we get together after being in the service. There is, I guess, a lot of forgiving, but there's probably not any forgetting.
That was my experience, and I can't deny it.