Bill's story:
My mom told me before she passed away that I wasn't supposed to be born. My dad was dying of TB and because of that, my mom said no more kids. Mom was adamant about it, and then I was born. I was born with club feet, deaf in both ears, with borderline retardation.
I was placed in the same room as my father, who passed away in Dec. 1960 of TB. I was taken from my home and brought to residential school for a time and yes, I experienced trauma in residential school. After residential school I was placed in foster care but I only remember going to the Williams home.
I am very thankful for the Williams family for they were responsible for me having my club feet and ears operated on; it wasn’t a happy home but I am thankful because after having a series of operations on both feet, I was able to walk straight at age 10. I then had surgery on my ears and was able to hear at age 12.
After my surgeries, I was not a disabled child anymore so I was kicked out of the Williams’ home at the age of 13 years old and lived on my own. Before I left the Williams’ home the Williams told me that I would be useless to society as well as other equally hurtful statements…I was really hurt!
My life got a lot worse before it got better …
I came to a point in my life that rather than living in depression, and at times trying to kill myself, I needed to forgive and I let people go who hurt me! From that moment I had a sense of peace and I was able to get on with my life.
Today I'm a filmmaker, I advocate for the first nations people in court. I am a driver too, I drive first nations people both in town and out of town. I run three organizations, and two businesses. The first business is BGW FILM STUDIOS: http://www.bgwfilmstudios.com and the second business is property manager: http://www.bgwpropertymanager.com
Rather than wallow in self pity, poor me kind of thing. I love to give out Christmas presents to street people on Christmas morning. I started this when I was 23 years old. I drive around town during the year to see how the street people are and if they need things like tooth paste, etc.
Most of the street people have similar stories, some more severe. A lot of people look down at these people because they're drunk.
This is my facebook page if you ever want to see what I am doing or want to donate clothes, toiletries, etc: https://www.facebook.com/billygwilliams1
I was placed in the same room as my father, who passed away in Dec. 1960 of TB. I was taken from my home and brought to residential school for a time and yes, I experienced trauma in residential school. After residential school I was placed in foster care but I only remember going to the Williams home.
I am very thankful for the Williams family for they were responsible for me having my club feet and ears operated on; it wasn’t a happy home but I am thankful because after having a series of operations on both feet, I was able to walk straight at age 10. I then had surgery on my ears and was able to hear at age 12.
After my surgeries, I was not a disabled child anymore so I was kicked out of the Williams’ home at the age of 13 years old and lived on my own. Before I left the Williams’ home the Williams told me that I would be useless to society as well as other equally hurtful statements…I was really hurt!
My life got a lot worse before it got better …
I came to a point in my life that rather than living in depression, and at times trying to kill myself, I needed to forgive and I let people go who hurt me! From that moment I had a sense of peace and I was able to get on with my life.
Today I'm a filmmaker, I advocate for the first nations people in court. I am a driver too, I drive first nations people both in town and out of town. I run three organizations, and two businesses. The first business is BGW FILM STUDIOS: http://www.bgwfilmstudios.com and the second business is property manager: http://www.bgwpropertymanager.com
Rather than wallow in self pity, poor me kind of thing. I love to give out Christmas presents to street people on Christmas morning. I started this when I was 23 years old. I drive around town during the year to see how the street people are and if they need things like tooth paste, etc.
Most of the street people have similar stories, some more severe. A lot of people look down at these people because they're drunk.
This is my facebook page if you ever want to see what I am doing or want to donate clothes, toiletries, etc: https://www.facebook.com/billygwilliams1
Thanks!
Bill Williams
Bill Williams