Maria Linklater has spent a lifetime advocating for Indigenous children in care

WARNING: This story contains distressing details.

Maria Linklater first started caring for children when she herself was still a child.

Decades later, after raising her own children and more than 350 foster kids, the Nehiyaw (Cree) woman continues to stand up for future generations.

The 80-year-old is known in Saskatoon and beyond as a fighter for children in care and for Indigenous families.

Linklater was born at Thunderchild First Nation in Saskatchewan and was raised there by her grandmother.

She was one of eight sisters in the family. She said helping each other was a big part of their early childhoods.

"It takes a whole community to raise a child," said Linklater.

"Those were the days where it was so nice. You could just trust people. You left your doors open…. And if you need a babysitter, we'd babysit."

Linklater was forced to go to residential school when she was about seven years old, she said.

The young girl from Thunderchild hated the institution. She was not allowed to speak her language, nēhiyawēwin, but she did it anyway.

"I'd get a licking for it, but I'd still speak it," said Linklater.

As she had at home, Linklater started looking after the little ones.

"We'd get a licking all the time, and you were just [treated like] a worthless human being." 

Eventually Linklater got out of the school and married.