'I had to choose': Healing journey leads to honorary doctorate for Cree man

"I chose my daughter."

Thomas R. Louttit remembers the day many years ago, when he decided to start healing from his abuses at residential school.

"One morning, I got up and I looked at my daughter there, she was standing beside me, and I had to choose."

This past weekend, Louttit received an Honorary Doctorate of Law from Carleton University, as part of the university's fall convocation.

The degree was given "in recognition of his wise leadership and gracious service to the community as an Elder and the inspiration he offers those he mentors," according to a release by the university, which adds he was "an honourable model of personal reconciliation and education."

Louttit grew up in Moose Factory, just across from Moosonee, at the bottom of James Bay on the Ontario side.It was not so long after he was born at age five thathe was shipped to Fort George to attend the French Catholic Residential School, just up the coast on the Quebec side of James Bay.

On the way there, he encountered something that would affect his whole life:he was abused on a boat trip to school. They were memories he buried for a long time, said Louttit.

It was in the 1980s that Louttit decided to let go of the destructive patterns, something he did through traditional ceremonies. Louttit then started helping elders in Barrie, Ont.,where he lived, before moving to Ottawa in 2002where he began to work with men's circles and the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health.

Several members of his family, including his wife, daughter, several grandchildren and twoof his sisters were on hand for Saturday's ceremony at Carleton.

"I haven't seen (my siblings)for a long time because of residential school. We've been apart almost 30,40 years.So we are now together," Louttit said."We are a family again. It's a great feeling to have a family."

In addition to his work in healing,Louttitrecently retired from the roofing trade, where he worked for over 30 years. He also hostssweat lodge ceremonies and visitsschools, and started a men's group at Wabano Centre, which meets every week.

When asked about the honour, he had this to say:

"I can't find the word. The only one word I can tell you is 'awesome'."