Visit us @ www.irsss.ca 1

irsss.ca

Indian Residential School Survivor Society Spring/Summer 2013

Inside This Issue:

2-3 IRSS vs. TRC vs. RC 8 PNE Map for TRC Event

4 Our Services and

Resources

9 Membership Form

5 How to Achieve Counsel-

ling Services & Hands

Helping Hands

10 Aboriginal Youth Internship

Andrea Medley

6 Truth and Reconciliation

Events

11 Elders Voice: Andrew

Yellowback

7 Truth and Reconciliation

Commission (TRC)

Reconciliation Poster

12 IRSSS RHSW’s and Contact

Info

Visit us @ www.irsss.ca 2

Indian Residential School

Survivors Society

Indian Residential School

Support Organizations At A

Glance About

The Indian Residential School Survivors Society began in 1994 as a working committee of the First Nations Summit.

As of March 2002, the organization formally became the Indian Residential School Survivors Society.

The mandate of the IRSSS is to assist aboriginal peoples in British Columbia to recognize and be holistically empowered from the generational effects of Indi-an residential schools by conducting research, promoting awareness, establish-ing partnerships and advocating for justice and healing. We do this by assisting with Healing, Education, Counselling, Traditional Healing, Support Groups, Criminal and Civil Court Support & Referrals

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada has a mandate to learn the truth about what happened in the residential schools and to inform all Canadians about what happened in the schools. The Commission will document the truth of what happened by relying on records held by those who operated and funded the schools, testimony from officials of the institutions that operated the schools, and experiences reported by survivors, their families, communities and anyone per-sonally affected by the residential school experience and its subsequent impacts. The Commission hopes to guide and inspire First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples and Canadians in a process of truth and healing leading toward reconciliation and renewed relationships based on mutual understanding and respect.

The Commission views reconciliation as an ongoing individual and collective pro-cess that will require participation from all those affected by the residential school experience. This includes First Nations, Inuit, and Métis former students, their families, communities, religious groups, former Indian Residential School employ-ees, government, and the people of Canada.

Reconciliation Canada is the vision of Chief Dr. Robert Joseph, Gwawaenuk Tribal Elder. This charitable project is a collaboration between the Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS) and Tides Canada Initiatives Society (TCI). In the spirit of Nam’wiyut (we are all one), the initiatives of Reconciliation Canada create opportunity for Canadians, Aboriginal peoples and all Canadians, to learn about the impacts of residential schooling, heal together by sharing knowledge and experience, and develop strategies for moving forward in a mutually positive manner. Reconciliation Canada firmly believes collective sharing and understanding will pave the way forward for a stronger and united Canada. Our goal is to revitalize cross-cultural relationships by hosting reconciliation dialogue workshops across British Columbia that educate participants about the legacy of residential schools, followed by a series of cultural events and celebrations during Reconciliation Week in Vancouver, B.C., on September 17, 21, and 22, 2013

Visit us @ www.irsss.ca 3

Purpose Contact Information

Supports survivors through crisis counselling,

court support, and providing information and re-

ferrals

Assists communities to help survivors through

partnerships, training & educational workshops

Raises awareness of residential school issues

Supports and conducts research

Advocate for justice and healing in both traditional

and non-Aboriginal forms

Prepare a complete historical record on the poli-

cies and operations of residential schools.

Complete a public report including recommenda-

tions to the parties of the Indian Residential

Schools Settlement Agreement.

Establish a national research centre that will be a

lasting resource about the IRS legacy.

Deliver a safe learning opportunity for a diversity

of faith, cultures and organizations to gain an un-

derstanding of one another’s shared history be-

ginning with the stories of Aboriginal people and

the Indian residential school system

Engage people from every level of society in open

and honest dialogues about reconciliation and the

unique contributions our diverse histories and

experiences offer in building resilient communi-

ties

Catalyze a new way forward in the relationships

between Aboriginal peoples and Canadians that

facilitates a better, stronger Canada for all

Head Office

1500-360 Main Street

Winnipeg, Manitoba

R3C 3Z3

Telephone: (204) 984-5885

Toll Free: 1-888-872-5554 (1-888-TRC-5554)

Fax: (204) 984-5915

Email: info@trc.ca

413 West Esplanade

North Vancouver, BC

V7M 1A6

Telephone: (604) 985-4464

Toll Free: 1-800-721-0066

Fax: (604) 985-0023

Email: reception @irsss.ca

Suite 206 – 1999 Marine Drive

North Vancouver, BC

V7P 3J3

Telephone: (604 )770-4434

info@reconciliationcanada.ca

Visit us @ www.irsss.ca 4

We provide emotional support to Indian Residential School (IRS) students/

survivors and those impacted through intergeneration’s. These services are of-

fered before, during and after hearings, at Truth and Reconciliation Commission

(TRC) events, as well as at commemorative events.

At IRSSS we are here to help and support with:

Preparing for hearing(s)

Giving emotional support the Survivors as they go through the hearing process or giving a statement/testimoney .

Assisting with self-care preparation

Providing referrals to mental health and wellness service providers

Offering support and advocacy for justice and healing

Delivering grief/loss sessions

Counseling and Art Therapy

Coordinating services of Elders and/or Traditional Healers

Specific services determined by the needs of the Survivor (or family)

Dialogue, traditional ceremonies, prayers or traditional healings

We have Resolution Health Support Workers and Cultural Support Workers available in Vancouver, Surrey, Chilliwack, Kamloops, Williams Lake and Ter-race.

Our workers are safe, confidential, respectful and non-judgemental.

For more information or assistance, please call our toll free number: 1-800-721-0066

More about our Services and Resources

Visit us @ www.irsss.ca 5

Health Canada

For professional counseling and transportation (when services are not local) please contact

Health Canada.

They will review eligible services available for you under the Health Support Program.

For BC Region:1-877-477-0775 For Yukon: 1-800-464-8106

For Alberta: 1-888-495-6588

Or visit: www.healthcanada.gc.ca/irs

For immediate emotional support/assistance:

1-866-925-4419

The Hands Helping Hands program has been going great! The transition from Bonnie Henry

as the community response worker to me was very smooth. I am very excited to be back at the

IRSSS.

I am Tsimshian and Haisla from the Gitxaala Nation. I am studying to be a counselling psy-

chologist at UBC and currently at the Vancouver College of Counselor Training to receive my

certificate in Youth and Family work and diploma of Professional Counselling.

We are keeping quite busy in the New Year. I applied for and received a small grant for

Leadership Capacity Training for Aboriginal Youth. I decided to hold a small youth and elder

dialogue event about social and systemic issues that the two generations have been dealing with.

This was on March 22nd at the Aboriginal Friendship centre. Thank you to all the youth and el-

ders that attended.

We had a great time with our Monthly Food Giveaway on the 31st of July. Our team assem-

bled over a 160 lunches that we handed out at Oppenheimer Park. This month, we are partner-

ing with Mission Possible to hand out our Monthly Lunch Giveaway on the 28th of August.

I have also maintained partnerships with other organizations such as Vancouver Native

Housing Society, Vancouver Native Health Society, Cedar Project, Mission Possible, Aboriginal

Mother Centre, and various youth groups. I believe that by collaborating with other organiza-

tions, we can better meet the needs of those who are homeless or at risk of being homeless.

I am also planning an event called Lugwaant’is, which means Celebrate in my language, Sm’algyax

(Tsimshian territory). Please contact me with any questions or if you’re interested in partici-

pating.

Hands Helping Hands: Homelessness Partnering Strategy Project

By Danielle Wilson-Brown

Visit us @ www.irsss.ca 6

Watch as beautiful cedar dugout canoes paddle into False Creek from Kits Point to

Science World and are welcomed in a traditional ceremony to the Coast Salish lands.

Reconciliation Canada’s All Nations Canoe Gathering is unlike any event Vancouver

All Nations Canoe Gathering

False Creek, Vancouver Tuesday, September 17, 2013 Noon to

2:00p.m.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Downtown Vancouver, 4 km

8:30a.m. to 1:30p.m.

The Walk for Reconciliation is designed to transform and renew the very essence of

relationships among Aboriginal peoples and all Canadians. It sounds so simple, but

just the act of gathering and walking and sharing our stories can join us all in a shared

commitment to creating a new way forward in our relationships with each other.

It’s time to move past apologies and politics and money.

It’s time to move forward. Together.

Lighting the Flame

of Reconciliation Monday September 16, 2013

6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

A sacred fire will be lit to symbolize

the commencement of

Reconciliation Week

Ambleside Park, End of 13th Street,

off Marine Drive

Upcoming Reconciliation Week Events

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Visit us @ www.irsss.ca 8

Pacific National Exhibition Map

Visit us @ www.irsss.ca 9

Indian Residential School Survivors Society

Membership Form

Full Name: ________________________ Date Submitted: ____________________

Address: __________________________ Nation/Band: _______________________

Phone: ____________________________ Email: ____________________________

Type of Membership

(Please choose the boxes that apply)

Residential School Survivor Intergenerational Survivor

Day Scholar Day School

Associate Member Honorary Member

Other Youth

Associate and Honorary Members can attend and speak at meetings but may not vote or

hold positions at the Society.

Any information you provide will be kept strictly confidential

Please mail, fax, or email completed membership form to:

413 West Esplanade, North Vancouver, BC V7M 1A6

Email: reception@irsss.ca or Fax: 604.985.0023

Visit us @ www.irsss.ca 10

The Aboriginal Youth

Internship & IRSSS My name is Andrea Medley, and I am from the Haida nation of Old Massett on Haida Gwaii. I have a background in health sciences, and I have come to work with the IRSSS through the Aboriginal Youth Internship Program (AYIP). The AYIP is a 12 month internship program that begins in Sep-tember, and ends in August. In this year, interns spend 9 months a government Ministry, and 3 months with an Aborig-inal Organization. I spent my Ministry placement at the Minis-

try of Health, at the Aboriginal Healthy Living Branch, in the area of health governance, and now, here I am, at the IRSSS, helping out with the Educational Legacy Project. The Educational Legacy Project serves to further develop the www.irsr.ca website. The pro-ject is funded by Vancouver Foundation. It is designed to help educators teach their stu-dents about the history and impacts of the Indian Residential Schools by developing accurate, balanced, and engaging lesson plans and resources to supplement curriculums. The development of curriculum is being guided by an Advisory Committee, which is built from partnerships with a variety of educational institutions. The project is now led by Devi Goberdhan and Naomi Williams, and I have been assisting, through involvement in meetings with the Advisory Committee, as well as reviewing website materials and as-sisting in the design process. The main updates with the project have been: the hiring of web designer, to provide a cutting edge design for the new content; working with UBC to create a day of learning for teachers on residential school during an upcoming Pro-D day and; participating in a panel at SFU in regards to their Week of Reconciliation this upcoming September. We are currently working with our web designer to map out the site, and our next steps are to bring together the Advisory Committee and professors who specialize in Indigenous Studies to further develop the website’s content.

Visit us @ www.irsss.ca 11

Andrew Yellowback

What does reconciliation mean to me? Our philosophy surrounding our relationship with the Creator is a principle that is the fo-cus of our Aboriginal life. As Aboriginal people, our First Nations have hundreds of different words in our own languages signifying what we mean when we say Cre-ator. We realize we make no gains without the Great Spirit in our lives. Neither I, nor anything we do, will work without our Creator. Being Aboriginal and being spir-itual has the same meaning. Spirituality is our gift from the Great One. As an Aboriginal man, woman, or youth, we will return to the traditional and spiritual val-ues that have guided our ancestors for the past generations. We will look with new eyes on the powers of our ceremonies and religious ways, for they are important to the very survival of our people. We have survived and are going to grow and flourish spiritually. We will fulfill our teachings and the purpose that the Creator has given us with dignity. Each day, we will pray and ask for guidance. We will commit to walk the Red Road, or whatev-er the spiritual way is called in our own culture. We will walk this road with dedication. That’s what Reconciliation means to me.

Elders Voice

Visit us @ www.irsss.ca 12

Indian Residential School Survivors Society

MAIN OFFICE-NEW LOCATION

413 West Esplanade North Vancouver, BC V7M 1A6 Office: 604-985-4464 Fax: 604-985-0023 Toll Free: 1-800-721-0066 Email: reception@irsss.ca www.irsss.ca

Admin Team:

Executive Director: Cindy Tom-Lindley Office Manager: Grace Cameron Workshop Coordinator: Angela White Office Assistant: Christine Johnson

RHSW Team:

Supervisor: Maxine Windsor Scheduler: Melanie Vivier RHSW/Art Therapist: Adeline Brown RHSW: Devi Goberdhan RHSW: Bonnie Henry RHSW: Vera Jones RHSW: Ross Muehlfarth RHSW: Naomi Williams RHSW: Terry Windsor

Homelessness Partnering Strategy Project:

Community Response Coordinator: Danielle Wilson-Brown

Supervisor: Sandra Greene

REGIONAL OFFICES

Kamloops Office:

123 Palm St. Kamloops, BC, V2B 8J7 Office: 250-376-1252 Fax: 250-376-1253 Toll Free: 1-877-778-5356 RHSW: Roberta Moses RHSW: Janice Knighton RHSW: Frank Wallace

Williams Lake Office:

59-1st Ave S.

Williams Lake, BC , V2G 1H4

Office: 250-392-4466

Fax: 250-392-4466

Toll Free: 1-877-563-4472

RHSW/Therapist: Shirley David RHSW: Maise Wright

Terrace Office:

#204 - 3228 Kalum St.

Terrace, BC, V8G 2N1

Office: 250-635-4498

Fax: 250-635-4498

Toll Free: 1-877-335-4499

RHSW: Arlene Roberts RHSW: Johnathan Whonnock

Fort St. James: Betsy Dennis Hazelton: Mark Louis South Hazelton: Sadie Howard Port Alberni: Ben David Surrey: Alannah Atley Vancouver: Charles Chapman Penticton: Marylou Louie Lytton: Charon Spinks

Vancouver: Andy Yellowback

Vancouver: Brenda Wesley

Vancouver: Michael Kelly

Vancouver: Sam George

Vancouver: Theresa Campbell

Vancouver: Glen Williams

Vancouver: Sadie McPhee

IRSSS Elders Support Coordinator: Maxine Windsor

Cultural Support