Raymond Tony Charlie is a member of the Penelakut Tribe, a First Nation based on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.

A father of three adult sons, Raymond Tony Charlie attended two residential schools operated by the Roman Catholic Church when he was a teenager. Memories of those difficult years, marked by physical, emotional and sexual abuse inspired him to write his book, In The Shadow of the Red Brick Building. Contact us for purchase. [askewcreek.com/contact]

Now a respected Elder in his community, Raymond Tony Charlie acknowledges the damage done to his self-esteem and ability to adapt to mainstream society was profound and lasting. However, over time, assisted greatly by counselling and family support, Charlie has managed to turn his life around. Indeed, he has become an inspiration to other dealing with the challenges that life threw at them as a direct result of their own experiences at residential schools.

Today, Raymond Tony Charlie shares his message of recovery and hope with youth, students and other adult survivors through workshops and speaking engagements. He has participated in videos and podcasts about the Kuper Island Residential School experience and utilizes social media to educate the broader community.

Raymond Tony and his wife, Lorraine, have been married for 50 years and live in the Cowichan Valley, on Vancouver Island, BC Canada