Wowsers, how lucky are we here in Yellowknife? The NT/NU Council of Friendship Centres is holding a dinner and healing circle on Dec. 15.

The 'Healing Together' event will honour residential school survivors and their families.

And we just had a celebration of 'Our Resilience as Indigenous People,' sponsored by the Northern Indigenous Counselling 2 students recently. It was totally awesome.

So, on Dec. 15, we can go to another totally awesome event. This time, itSA国际影视传媒檚 a chance to get together, eat and participate in a healing circle. It will be held in the Caribou Room at the Chateau Nova. Woohoo!

Maxine Lacorne is the organizer and she says, SA国际影视传媒淎s an intergenerational survivor, I wanted to honour past and present survivors for their strength and resiliency. Having a safe space to gather is a step towards creating connection, healing and life-long friendships.SA国际影视传媒�

Lacorne added, SA国际影视传媒淲e wanted to hold the Healing Together event for residential school survivors and their families because theySA国际影视传媒檝e been asking for a gathering to reconnect and to share stories of their healing journey. Also, there arenSA国际影视传媒檛 many gatherings for them.SA国际影视传媒�

What is a residential school survivor?

Students who made it through residential school are called survivors. Why are they called survivors? The Truth and Reconciliation Commission documented over 4,000 deaths of students in SA国际影视传媒淚ndian residential schoolsSA国际影视传媒� (IRS) across Canada.

Some died of natural causes, but many survivors say they saw students die from unnatural causes and being buried in the night.  Recently, news media have reported hundreds of what could be unmarked graves being found with ground-penetrating radar at several former residential school sites.

Of course, when Lacorne says, SA国际影视传媒渋ntergenerational survivor,SA国际影视传媒� she means she is a descendant of someone who went to residential school.

Of all the provinces and territories, the NWT had the highest proportion of Indigenous people who attended residential schools in Canada. Once there, many of them were subjected to mental, physical, spiritual and emotional abuse.

Considering the trauma arising from residential schools, and colonialism in general, itSA国际影视传媒檚 no wonder we have some of CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 highest rates of addictions, mental health issues, sexual assaults, incarceration and children in care. Whew.

These tell us of a grim history, however, that is not the focus of this event. It has been 16 years since former prime minister Stephen Harper apologized on behalf of Canada, and it is important to note that so many Indigenous people have talked about the atrocities.

Now, itSA国际影视传媒檚 time to hear about the stories of resilience and how survivors are taking action with their personal healing. This is an opportunity for us to hear and celebrate what survivors have done to break the family cycles of hurt and pain.

LetSA国际影视传媒檚 hear how many have gone for treatment and stayed sober. We need to hear the stories of adversity and how so many are getting an education. We want to know how many are working and living better lives. LetSA国际影视传媒檚 hear about families who are seeking counselling and see improvement in their relationships.

We need to hear the success stories and how people have pushed through the hard times and continue to survive and thrive because they wanted better for their children and grandchildren. Very cool.

And just think, the first NWT residential school opened in 1867 at Fort Providence Sacred Heart School and the last one closed in the 1990s. Look how far we have come in the last 30 years. 

Healing Together event

LetSA国际影视传媒檚 celebrate our resilience and how we are finding our way back. We shared about the pain and now itSA国际影视传媒檚 time to share what we have done to heal ourselves.
We are still struggling, but we are also healing.

So thatSA国际影视传媒檚 why they are holding a gathering to honour the survivors and their families: because they made it through the hardships. Many have problems, including active addictions. But many are thriving, often despite not completely dealing with their traumas.

The Healing Together event will begin with a lighting of the qulliq, prayers from Elders, and a prayer song by the Yellowknives Dene drummers. The survivors will also be honoured.

A scrumptious dinner of hamburgers and hotdogs will then be served. Eschia, take it easy eh! Ha ha ha ha. I donSA国际影视传媒檛 know what the meal will consist of, but it definitely wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be that. ISA国际影视传媒檓 told it will be something very nice.

Following the dinner, there will be two sharing circles for people to tell their stories of how they are healing. The evening will end with a short drum dance with the Yellowknives Dene drummers. At some point, residential school survivor Stephen Kakfwi will perform some songs.

The event is funded through the Indian Residential School Commemoration Program, which was started to help contribute to the federal governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 reconciliation efforts. It aligns with the objectives outlined in TRC Call to Action No. 79(iii).

Want to come? You need to register with a wellness worker at 867-873-4332. ISA国际影视传媒檒l see you there.