• Calendar
• What's New
• Your Feedback
• First Nations Members

Assisting Indian Residential School Survivors

Vanessa Nevin & Georgianna Barlow, Policy Analysts

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 In November of 2004, the Mi'kmaq, Maliseet and Passamaquoddy Chiefs mandated the staff of APC to provide outreach information sessions to former Indian Residential School (IRS) students in the Atlantic.  The intent of this mandate was to ensure former IRS students had the most up to date information on the proposed Final Settlement Agreement.

 Over the course of the last 5 years, the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nation Chiefs has been providing outreach to former IRS students.  As we have provided information about the Indian Residential School Agreement and the individual components of that agreement, IRS former students have communicated critical feedback to the Atlantic Policy Congress on strategies to address the harms done to them.  These insights were ascertained by extensive outreach to communities and by guidance of the Outreach Residential School Atlantic Committee (ORSAC). 

 Based upon the identified needs of IRS former students/descendents, and frontline supports, APC has collaborated with our partners to meet these needs.  At the request of our partners, APC worked with former IRS students, Indian Brook First Nation, and others to organize healing activities and emotional supports for IRS survivors to bear witness to a long overdue apology from the Canadian Government.  Other ways APC has sought to address the identified need of former IRS students was addressed was by successful making implementing Health Canada's Regional Health Support Workers program in New Brunswick; and, by working with ORSAC to develop a community healing fund to address the complex cultural and emotional needs of IRS survivors.

 IRS OUTREACH

 With the support of the First Nation communities in Atlantic Canada, APC Secretariat follows a relationship vision that concentrates on partnership and cooperation, government to government relationships, dialogue and education, quality of life, and self determination in First Nations Communities.  APC works closely with former IRS students, frontline workers, and leadership to ensure the services provided meet the needs of IRS survivors. The 2009-10 APC work plan (create a hotlink for work plan - will email you a copy) focuses specifically on preparing former IRS students in the Atlantic for the next steps of the Final Settlement Agreement and how they wish to proceed.

 GOAL

 To encourage dialogue amongst former IRS students/descendents, front line agencies, First Nations' leadership, and other interested parties regarding the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement and the complex needs of former IRS students/descendents.

 OBJECTIVES

 1.       To work with government and other designated agencies in providing guidance and support on dialogue for the following topics:  IAP, TRC, Commemoration and the complex needs of former IRS students.

2.       To assist survivors/descendents and their supports become more knowledge of existing supports and to understand their rights and responsibilities under the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement.

 UPDATE

 The 2009-2010 fiscal year will mark the fifth year that the Atlantic Policy Congress has been providing Indian Residential school information and the Final Settlement Agreement implemented on September 19^th, 2007to Mi'kmaq and Maliseet survivors, their families, Chiefs and Councils, First Nations communities, Federal Councils and the general public.

 APC staff continues to work closely with relevant Government Agencies to ensure the safety of survivors throughout the Final Settlement Agreement.   The APC continues to distribute information to survivors and other important audiences and information is continuously posted on the APC website (www.apcfnc.ca).  The APC will prepare and distribute any material in relation to the outreach initiative, and prepare regular reports on the Final Settlement Agreement in the Mi'kmaq/Maliseet News, which updates survivors on information and APC community visits, and other media outlet forms. This will continue to be done regularly with the Mi'kmaq Maliseet News, First Nations newsletters, First Nations TV stations and radio, and mailed individually with APC's most current database list.

 SUMMARY OF 2008-2009 OUTREACH SESSIONS 

 Outreach Residential School Atlantic Committee (ORSAC)

 The ORSAC Committee consists of a partnership of survivors, First Nation leadership representation, academic representation, Government Agencies and First Nation Agencies and Organizations who wish to provide access and facilitate information to former students of the Shubenacadie Indian Residential School in the Atlantic region while further acknowledging the legacy of the Indian Residential Schools in Canada. The committee will provide information on, and facilitate access to, programs and services which will enable survivors of Indian Residential Schools to deal with issues reflective of their experiences within the schools and to ensure that these experiences are acknowledged and commemorated. Here is a summary of ORSAC meetings held throughout the 2008-09 year:

 JUNE 11TH, 2008

CANADA'S APOLOGY TO ALL INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SURVIVORS

June 11^th was called a historical day by most media that covered the official Harper apology to former students of Indian residential schools across Canada.  It was a time of mixed emotions of Elders, former students, descendents, and other First Nations people at the former residential school site; there was sadness, anger, frustration, happiness, tiredness etc.

It was a day to commemorate, revisit, and reunite on the site of the former Shubenacadie Indian Residential School.   From 1930 to 1967, there was one recognized Indian Residential School (IRS) operating in Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia which profoundly impacted the lives of Mi'kmaq, Maliseet and Passamaquoddy First Nations people.

The morning events commenced with an opening prayer by Doug Knockwood of Indian Brook, NS.  Followed by a crossing over ceremony conducted by Henry J. Augustine for former students of the Shubenacadie Indian Residential School that passed onto the spirit world were remembered.  Augustine sang a song telling the spirits of the deceased survivors to go home to the Creator and offered a plate of food for the spirits.  A release and letting go ceremony was conducted by Doreen Bernard of Indian Brook, NS a former student herself.  The family of the late Nora Bernard as well as many others, walked from the former residential school site of Shubenacadie to the Train Station as a symbol of returning home.  Known to former students as "Freedom Day"; the walk continued to Indian Brook, NS multi-purpose building where other dignitaries and members gathered to hear the official apology on big screen TVs.

At the same time, eleven former students of the Shubenacadie Indian Residential School were given the opportunity to witness Prime Minister Harper's apology in the House of Commons on June 11^th, 2008. APC was also given the honour to go with the former students to witness this historic event in which Prime Minister Harper acknowledged "a sad chapter in our history."

 OCTOBER 12^TH -22^ND, 2008

INDIAN BROOK SURVIVOR/YOUTH PILGRIMAGE TO ROME & PARIS

 A historical Pilgrimage to Rome, Italy and Paris, France took place from October 12^th to the 22^nd, 2008.  This journey brought together former Indian Residential School students of the Shubenacadie Indian Residential School, Indian Brook First Nation youth, Chiefs, RCMP, members of the Catholic Clergy as well as APC staff.

 In efforts to reconcile with the Catholic Church who administered the Shubenacadie Indian Residential School, former students from the Indian Brook First Nation in Nova Scotia began to plan a trip to Rome to see the Pope, Benedict XVI. Upon community request, APC agreed to assist in planning this trip.

 By coincidence, Indian Brook youth who were planning a similar trip came on board with the survivor trip.  It was an opportunity for former IRS students to continue healing and continue the reconciliation process.  Youth gain a greater understanding of the tragic part of their Elders.  After travelling from Halifax to Toronto, Toronto to Germany and from there to Rome, the trip was well worth the wait. The whole group was able to get VIP tickets to sit near the Pope during his weekly speech to the general public in St. Peter's Square.  Survivors were also able to give the Pope an Eagle Feather and the Pope also recognized the Indian Brook pilgrimage.

 Mass was held daily for the group, as well as accommodating trips to museums, historic ruins, and shopping for souvenirs for family members back home.

 From Rome, survivors went on to Paris, France by train, through the Swiss Alps, to do more sight-seeing and upon arrival in Paris viewed Eiffel Tower.  Survivors and youth really enjoyed this trip and an official report is now completed.

 Constable Stuart Knockwood facilitated debriefing sessions so the group could discuss about what the trip meant to them. The group was also filmed and asked to say a few words about their healing journey to Rome. 

 The creation of a video, chronicling the journey of healing and reconciliation with survivors in Atlantic Canada will begin pending the approval of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission.

 NOVEMBER 3^RD-5^TH, 2008 & APRIL 6^th - 9^th, 2009

TOUCHSTONES TRAINING

 In working to ensure the safety of survivors and preparing frontline workers, the Atlantic Policy Congress held the two "Touchstones Training" sessions in Nova Scotia for approximately 70 frontline workers from various First Nations, including clinical therapists and members of the RCMP. 

The goal of this training was to establish a culturally appropriate model of crisis prevention and intervention in Atlantic First Nation communities, in particular, the complex mental, emotional, and cultural need of former IRS students.

 The objectives of this valuable training are:

 1.      To equip frontline community workers with the tools they require to anticipate, identify and respond to signs of emotional distress experienced by people affected by the Indian Residential School disclosure process.

2.      To mitigate the risks of re-traumatization by having supports in place that can respond to the diversity of cultural, emotional, spiritual and psychiatric issues that are expected to arise.

3.      To provide community workers with the strategies required to cope with the emotional demands of their role in supporting people through the Indian Residential School journey on both a professional and personal level.

4.      To strengthen the linkages between First Nations and provincial mental health service providers so as to foster a shared understanding of community mental health needs and collaborative relationships to address them.

 Facilitated by RCMP Constable Stuart Knockwood and Sonia Chehil, Child Psychiatrist with the IWK Hospital, the topic areas discussed at this training involved Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), Indian residential schools: killing the Indian child, empowerment of front line workers, self-care, the importance partnerships/team building; and, learning to know when to leave as a front line worker.

 This training provided tools to enhance frontline workers to better prepare frontline workers to assist survivors.  A network of frontline workers was formed so they could come together, share experiences, both positive and negative, all with the goal in mind to promote health and wellness.