How befriending bugs helped an N.S. residential school survivor preserve her Mi'kmaw language

As a young girl at the Shubenacadie Residential School, Phyllis Googoo found a special way to hang on to her Mi'kmaw language: talking to ladybugs. 

In the documentary Phyllis & the Ladybugs, Googoo explains the bugs were actually potato bugs. She would make roads for them in the grass and sing them lullabies.

"I'd take care of my babies. I'd say, 'Don't be afraid,' because I was afraid," she says in the documentary. "I wanted to be treated how I was treating the ladybugs."

The film was co-directed by Googoo and Ann Verrall. It follows Googoo's story from being forced to attend residential school at 4½ years old to leaving for the Vatican to meet with Pope Francis in March 2022 along with other residential school survivors. 

Cassandra Googoo said her grandmother's visit to the Pope was a full circle moment. 

"My grandmother thought highly of forgiveness. It's a term in our language. It's called apiksiktuwaqn," she said.

"She really felt strongly about, you know, you go through your trials in life, but you also have forgiveness in your heart and you move forward with that."

Imagination as a 'survival mechanism'

Co-director Ann Verrall said she knew Phyllis Googoo's story needed to be shared.

"I think that's one of the things that really drew me to it is looking at how the imagination is a survival mechanism and how this very young child was able to engage her imagination to help herself and to survive in that environment."

Cassandra Googoo said her grandmother's story is one of "triumph."

"We were able to share a good story about language revitalization rather than the horrible stories about that place," she said.

Phyllis Googoo was able to retain her Mi'kmaw language despite nine years at residential school. She went on to become a language teacher at We'koqma'q Mikmaw School.

Phyllis & the Ladybugs is part of Absolutely Canadian and is available on CBC Gem.