LaRose determined to not become a victim
- EFN Staff | June 20, 2015
J.R. LaRose is one of the most accomplished Aboriginal CFL players in the history of the game. But what really formed the Grey Cup champion player is his deeply personal story about his mother, from One Arrow First Nation who was a survivor of the Indian Residential Schools and his own reality as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. He shared his difficult tale with the people at the Saskatoon TRC Commemoration ceremony and it is a story of tenacity, triumph and inspiration.
“I speak about my story because it is healing and it makes me feel better. And I also know I reach other people. It is so relatable of so many of the hardships that many First Nation people are faced with,” said LaRose. “I never wanted my situation to become my excuse that I couldn’t do something in life. I knew I wanted better and I knew I didn’t want to become a victim. For me it was finding something I was passionate about and that was football.”
LaRose never knew his father and his mother struggled with addictions, finally becoming sober for the last two years of her life. Being the vulnerable child impacted LaRose and after the abuse he became a very angry young man who fought a lot. When he became a teenager he had an epiphany. “I knew then that the things I faced with as a young kid, I knew I was going to grow up and have a family one day and there was no way my kids would go through the same things that I faced as a child. It’s all about making choices and I decided not to become a product of my environment.”
Football was his way out and he could hit players at full speed helping to vent some of his inner anger. After a stellar junior career he broke into the CFL with the Edmonton Eskimos in 2005 but was released in 2008 after he shattered his leg. At that moment he vowed to never fully rely on the CFL for a livelihood and he started motivational speaking. He eventually signed with the BC Lions where he won a Grey Cup in 2011. He remains unsigned this year and he anticipates he is going to retire. His pro sports career has given him lots of perspective that he shares in his motivational speeches. “Breaking my leg the second time in BC really put things into perspective. Am I actually going to be able to come back from this? One thing to say you can but to actually go through the process. I really struggled with it.” The game also introduced him to people across Canada and opened up doors for business opportunities. “I travel across Canada doing these speeches and I am booked solid. I’m looking at getting into consulting for companies that want to work with First Nation communities and I plan on building relationships and partnerships,” said LaRose.
After his speech, LaRose was besieged by autograph seekers and well wishers. Many thanked him for his honesty. He hopes the story he tells helps others. “We talk about being survivors and it’s about overcoming that victim mentality. What our people went through and what my mom went through is very traumatic. At the same time we have to be able to overcome that. After hearing the success stories and stuff like that, it helps overcome the negativity. Find something that you are passionate about and go full fledged and never take no for an answer.”
Check out more photos from the Saskatoon TRC commemoration event.
You'll find more coverage of the TRC's findings here.