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The Origin of “Nobody’s Son”

Tom Mowatt

| had just finished a seven year federal sentence, four
months before writing this poem. | was in remand,

which means being held in jail while waiting to go to
court, at Prince George Regional Correctional Center.

| was in remand over three years. Evidence was being
collected in hopes of declaring me a dangerous offender,
which would have given me an indefinite sentence. The
teachings | absorbed throughout the first seven years
helped me to understand what | was being forced to deal
with in 1999. This is the ultimate example of the blame
game of how and why social problems are so rampant
on my Reserve and still is. This poem has stayed with
me all these years and rings more true every passing
day

While in remand | sent a copy of this poem to my sister.
Unfortunately, she though this was my last testament
before | was to commit suicide. In wanting to get help
to me, she handed it over to the court system. The
prosecutor tried to use it against me in the Vancouver
Supreme Court, hoping to designate me as suicidal so
| would be put on depression medication. I’ve used this
poem, in my presentations in Native Studies with Bruce
Allen here at College of New Caledonia.

| can proudly declare that | am a graduate Of Correction
Services of Canada as an inmate.

All My Relations

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