Details: 36 projects funded—total amount $429,973
Total figure includes 7 Special Projects totaling at $77,280
Aboriginal Front Door Society—Vancouver, B.C.
$10,000
Honourable Warriors Circle and Open Healing Circles for Life Skills
The 46-week program will offer sharing and healing circles for residential school survivors, and the intergenerational survivors. The sessions will focus on personal healing, personal development, sharing experiences, traditional and cultural teachings, education and awareness on residential schools impacts on individuals and families. (Diocese of Mew Westminster)
Aboriginal Neighbours, Diocese of BC—Victoria, B.C.
$15,000
Vancouver Island Regional TRC Gathering
To enable Indian residential schools survivors and their families to attend the Truth Reconciliation Commission Regional Event in Victoria; and the Truth and Reconciliation National Event in Vancouver 2013. (Diocese of British Columbia)
Alexander First Nation Education Authority—Morinville, Alta.
$15,000
To Preserve and Restore: A Community Vision for the Future
The project will consist of gathering traditional stories and teachings from the Elders and developing resources that can be used by all members of the community. Resources will include short educational film clips, booklets, story books, posters, signs and audio segments recorded on CD’s. The community school has dedicated resources and staff time to develop a Cree language and culture program. (Diocese of Edmonton)
Anglican First Nations Council—Terrace, B.C.
$15,000
On Eagles Wings
The project will offer a 10 month healing and educational sessions for the survivors in the area. The sessions will focus on: history, generational issues according to family mapping, understanding and using healing circles for family healing sessions, and training on post-trauma generational issue. All sessions will use traditional healing tools such as cedar weaving headbands, drum making, drum use, basic beading, and participants creating booklets for their family and community: My Life My Journey My Healing. (Diocese of Caledonia)
Big Cove First Nation Wellness Committee Inc.—Elsipogtog, N.B.
$7,576
Travel for Former Students to the National TRC Event in Saskatoon
The grant will enable 8 survivors to attend the Saskatoon TRC Event in June 2012. Upon return, those who attend will conduct presentations to other former students, descendants and community members about their experiences what they learned. (Diocese of Fredericton)
Christ Church Alert Bay/St. Georges’s Kingcome—Alert Bay, B.C.
$15,000
Vancouver Island Regional TRC Gathering
To enable Indian residential schools survivors and their families to attend the Truth Reconciliation Commission Regional Event in Victoria; and the Truth and Reconciliation National Event in Vancouver 2013. (Diocese of British Columbia)
Cree Nations Treatment Haven—Canwood, Sask.
$10,650
Aboriginal Clergy and the Anglican Church
The project will promote ‘the positive legacy of the Aboriginal Anglican Clergy that have served in the surrounding communities’. The project will provide forums for Elders and residential school survivors at each of the four communities to discuss the IRS experience, its effects and the paths to healing. It will provide interviews of community members that speak about the very positive role that the Aboriginal Anglican Clergy have played in their lives. The project will provide a permanent depository of records that pertain specifically to the Aboriginal Anglican Clergy in the area. All the work will be carried out and shared with the four supporting First Nation communities. (Diocese of Saskatchewan)
Elizabeth Fry Society of Ottawa—Ottawa, Ont.
$12,000
Healing Circles for criminalized or at risk descendants of Residential School Survivors
The aim of the project is to run Healing Circles for females—adult and youth—who are either Residential School survivors themselves, or descendents of Residential School Survivors and who are criminalized or at risk of criminalization. A Community Aboriginal Elder will be engaged to facilitate the healing circles. The objective in running the Elder led Healing Circles is to deal head on with the trauma caused by the Residential School experience and introduce women who have usually been estranged from family and community supports to culturally specific and appropriate ways to reconnect to culture and to heal. The grant for this project was made possible through Special Project. (Diocese of Ottawa)
Equay-Wuk (Women’s Group)—Sioux Lookout, Ont.
$13,500
Journey Back with Kookum,
The project will enable survivors and selected young people to travel to the TRC National Event in Saskatoon. This journey is a continuation of the Kookum and Youth Circles held during the winter of 2012. Journals will be provided to participants to log their journey. At the end of the journey, excerpts will be selected from the journals to be included in a resource booklet ‘Journey with Kookum’. The booklet will be featured as resource material on the Equay-wuk website. (Diocese of Keewatin)
Fox Lake Cree Nation—Gillam, Man.
$11,400
Traditional Healing of Fox Lake Cree Nation Youth & Community
The project will provide traditional teachings for youth in the community and those attending high school in Gillam. The teachings will include: drumming, seven grandfather teachings, traditional names, stories, ceremonies, etc. (Diocese of Keewatin)
Ganohkwasra Family Assault Support Services—Ohsweken, Ont.
$8,700
Sharing our knowledge: Creative ways to work with First Nations women, children and men impacted by oppression, abuse and residential schools
The project will enable the organization to develop an Article Site on its existing Interactive Web-site. The articles posted on the site will offer web visitors insight and understanding about working with Residential School and Intergenerational Residential School Survivors. Each article will have examples of how the organization works with its First Nations clientele to transition beyond their traumas to find peace. The grant for this project was made possible through Special Project. (Diocese of Huron)
Haida Heritage and Repatriation Society—Massett, Haida Gwaii, B.C.
$10,000
Haida Legends of Healing
The project will document, research and video-record Elders telling traditional Haida stories in Haida language, and residential school survivors telling their residential school experiences. Five of these recordings will be selected, dramatized and aired on the radio. The theme of the stories is spirituality, healing and resilience. The video recordings will be stored in the Family Centre library and at the Haida Gwaii Museum. (Diocese of Caledonia)
Hamlet of Kugluktuk, Wellness Department—Kugluktuk, N.W.T.
$14,689
Protect Our Youth: Inhalant Abuse Program
This is an inhalant abuse prevention program that aims to incorporate a variety of strategies including raising awareness, education and preventative activities. It will also provide for the youth and the families, advocacy for at-risk youth and their families. The grant for this project was made possible through Special Project. (Diocese of the Arctic)
Ladies of the Six Nations Anglican Parish—Hagersville, Ont.
$13,531
Cross Cultural Experience
To enable the members of this parish to continue providing community tours for groups who wish to visit and learn about the Mohawk Residential School, Mohawk chapel, Woodland Cultural Centre, the Pauline Johnson Homestead and other historical buildings and sites on the Six Nations First Nation. The tours provide opportunities for the people to see, learn and understand the First Nations history, culture and traditions; and this creates awareness of the residential school issues. (Diocese of Huron)
Language Nest–Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation—Wiarton, Ont.
$10,500
Maawamki’idinwag Elder in Residence Project
The 8-week Elder-In-Residence Program will invite Elders who are fluent in Ojibway to participate in the following band programs: Native Child Welfare, Health Centre and Maadookii Seniors Group. The Elders will share their knowledge and encourage the use of the Ojibway language with the program staff. Their presence will remind the band employees that learning language is a community priority. (Diocese of Huron)
MacKay Indian Residential School Gathering Inc.—Winnipeg, Man.
$12,280
MacKay Indian Residential School Gathering Inc.
To host a 3-day healing gathering for residential school survivors and their descendants at the site of the former MacKay School in Dauphin, Man.. The gathering will provide the participants with an environment that is conducive to reflecting, healing and sharing of experiences while in a healing circle. This will be the third gathering of MacKay IRS survivors and their families. (Diocese of Rupert’s Land)
Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak—Thompson, Man.
$10,500
Aboriginal Youth Cultural Awareness Camp
To hold a 2-week cultural awareness camp for 40 urban Aboriginal youth. The purpose of the camp is to teach these selected youth traditional teachings; such as, medicine wheel teachings, traditional medicines, regali design and to learn and participate in traditional ceremonies. (Diocese of Keewatin)
Mi’kmaq Maliseet Healing Networking Centre—Kingsclear, N.B.
$8,000
MMHNC Residential School Survivor Gathering 2012
To host a healing gathering for Residential School Survivors at Mactaquac, N.B.. The event is expected to bring approximately 50 survivors along with 50 family members, descendants and community members from First Nations in New Brunswick, Quebec and Nova Scotia. A variety of activities that are culturally appropriate and aimed at reclaiming the Mi’Kmaq and Maliseet cultures will be made available during the event. (Diocese of Fredericton)
Native Child and Family Services—Toronto
$10,000
Aboriginal Youth Camp
The project will provide a summer camp for children and youth residing in the Greater Toronto Area. The summer camp offers an opportunity and setting for youth to learn about their culture, history and identity from Elders. The youth spend one week at Camp Grundy where an Elder is available 24/7. Majority of these children and youth are the off-spring of the survivors of residential schools. While a number of the youth are under care in foster homes others live at home but all are under the care of the Native Child and Family Services. (Diocese of Toronto)
Native Counselling Services of Alberta—Edmonton, Alta.
$9,100
Project Heart
A hands-on, collaborative, inter-generational, inter-institutional artistic endeavour. Its purpose is to commemorate the lives of the thousands of Indigenous children who died as a result of the residential school experience. It commemorates the families and communities to whom those children belonged. It is designed to bring awareness both to the settler community of predominantly European Canadians and the communities of new Canadians from other parts of the world. (Diocese of Edmonton)
Native Men’s Residence—Toronto
$8,400
Ngim Kowa Njichaag (Reclaiming My Spirit)
The goal of this program is to assist clients in reclaiming their culture, identity, roles and responsibilities through the delivery of culture based services within a safe healing environment. The program includes: traditional teachings, ceremonies, feasts, drumming, singing, sharing and healing circles, Ont.e-one-one traditional counselling, and grief and loss workshops. (Diocese of Toronto)
Negotkuk Health Services—Tobique First Nation, N.B.
$8,000
Negotkunk Youth Cultural Healing Retreat Camp
To host a 5-day language and cultural immersion camp for 30 youth from 13 to 17 years of age. Instruction and guidance will be provided each day by an IRS survivor, an Elder, a traditional healer, a crafts person and the project coordinator. All activities will be conducted in Wolastoqewiyik language. Day programs will include: nature interpretive excursions, medicine picking and learning and canoeing. The evening programs will be devoted to cultural teachings, drumming, chanting, ceremonies, storytelling, etc. (Diocese of Fredericton)
Northern Aboriginal Iskwewak—Thompson, Man.
$13,900
Re-Learning Our Heritage
To host a 5-day cultural day-camp for youth and Elders from Wabowden, Thompson, Cross Lake, Thicket Portage and Nelson House. The project will end with a weekend campout for the whole community at one of the local historic sites. The camp will be led by Elders who will provide history of the area, traditional teachings, cultural practices, medicines, crafts, stories, etc. (Diocese of Keewatin)
Northern Frontenac Community Services—Sharbot Lake, Ont.
$3,000
First you plant the Seed Project
The purpose of this project is to provide opportunities for Aboriginal pre-school and young school aged children to learn, recognize and appreciate their heritage. The Aboriginal Outreach mentor will: visit all five northern schools monthly to deliver the Aboriginal Learning Circles for Children Program in the Jk/Sk classes; facilitate an Aboriginal School Readiness program for parents/caregivers and their pre-school children; and for the play groups, add culturally enriching activities and resources for Aboriginal, and non- Aboriginal families to enjoy. Traditional crafts, games and stories will be part of the weekly curriculum for all groups. The grant for this project was made possible through Special Project. (Diocese of Ontario)
Ontario Indian Residential School Support Services—Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
$15,000
Family Healing Model
This project entails the development a family healing module which will provide a better understanding of the IRS legacy and reveal its true impacts on the survivor, family and community. This project is designed to follow a process that begins with the survivors, family members, health care professionals and the community. The healing module will be used as a guide will to help the survivors and family move toward their personal and collective healing processes. (Diocese of Algoma)
Preparing for the Future Group—Metlakatla, B.C.
$11,500
Canoe Quest
The project is to host the end of the canoe quest tribal journey event with a community celebration and a feast. The journey will take 10 days from start to finish. The canoe quest tribal journey is a spiritual and personal journey allowing youth, Elders and community members to engage in healing and recovery through cultural practices, traditional teachings and spirituality. For some, this event may be the first opportunity to engage in this type of traditional event; and therefore, the first opportunity to engage in a collective healing event. (Diocese of Caledonia)
Restoring the Circle Committee—Owen Sound, Ont.
$11,000
Restoring the Circle
This project will involve hosting a 2-day conference to continue the work began in 2011 at Minowbimaadzawwin: the Good Life gathering. The work involves creating awareness about the truth & reconciliation commission, history of the residential schools and its legacy, the on-going impacts on the individuals, family and community, and nurturing the relationships established at the 2011 gathering. (Diocese of Huron)
Shekon Kentho Yakwes (We Are Still Here)—Osweken, Ont.
$10,198
Strengthening Survivors Connections
The project will enable 20 survivors and their families to attend the Shingwauk Residential Schoo1 gathering in August 2012. (Diocese of Huron)
Serpent River First Nation—Cutler, Ont.
$15,000
Empowering Our Community through Cultural Revitalization: Crafting to Dance
The project will offer weekly workshops that will help participants learn Traditional Anishinabek values and beliefs, dance, crafts, etc. The aim of the project is to begin to revitalize cultural traditions and knowledge; and address the inter-generational impacts of residential school system on the community. This activity will not only encourage, but we will link this program to other programs and other community initiatives that are aimed at parents, family and the extended family of Serpent River First Nation. (Diocese of Algoma)
Sioux Lookout Gospel Jamboree—Sioux Lookout, Ont.
$14,917
The Sacred Trail of Hope and Healing Journey
To hold a 3-day healing gathering that will include music ministry for survivors of the residential schools. A variety of workshops will be offered; such as, solvent and substance abuse, family counselling, suicide prevention, and other relevant topics. Those who are in need of support will be provided support during the event, and will be provided information where to go for further support after the event. (Diocese of Keewatin)
Spanish Indian Residential Schools Legacy Association—Massey, Ont.
$15,000
SIRSLA: Generations
To host a gathering of Spanish IRS former students, their descendants/families and interested members of the general public. The event will enable the participants time and place to discuss, reflect on and celebrate the relationships of the former students. (Diocese of Algoma)
TSAWOUT First Nation—Saanichton, B.C.
$15,000
I,TOTELNEW, AUTW “Learning House” Cultural Awareness Project
The project will call on Elders, First Nation artists and craftsmen to share their expertise. Elders will tell stories about the past, and the artists will show the participants beading, regalia making, drum making, etc. Activities will include: lacrosse, canoeing, traditional food preparation and feasting. The project will provide opportunity for children, youth and Elders to engage in positive activities. (Diocese of British Columbia)
United Anishnabay Centre Inc.—Regina, Sask.
$12,000
Reclaiming Our Pride Healing Initiative
To hold weekly talking and sharing circles for survivors of residential schools, and to provide counseling and personal support for all participants. It will also provide for summer sports and recreation activities. It will also include workshops which will include: parenting, domestic violence awareness training. The project will end with a celebration and feast in the fall. (Diocese of Qu’Appelle)
Wahta Mohawks First Nation—Bala, Ont.
$13,500
Reclaiming our History: Nurturing the Spirit Within
This project will enable the community to invite Mohawk Elders, Cultural Teachers and Helpers who will facilitate cultural and traditional activities. The project will help participants reconnect with their history, values, traditional and cultural teachings through dance, shaker & drum, songs, and regalia making. Establishing a community drum group and a sewing program will be vital to the success of this project. A field trip to the Woodland Cultural Centre in Brantford is one of the learning activities of this project. (Diocese of Algoma)
Wasauksing First Nation—Parry Sound, Ont.
$13,272
Role Modeling: Connecting Our Past to Our Future
To host a two-day youth gathering that will focus on healthy lifestyle options, career explorations and role modeling. The goal is for the youth to experience new ideas, be motivated, empowered, and excited to achieve their hopes and dreams in whatever career field they choose.
Local community youth roles models who have become successful as Authors, Film Industry, Artists, Aviation and Music will facilitate workshops and share their stories to motivate and encourage youth to make healthy lifestyle choices. Wab Kinew the host of CBC’s documentary series, ‘8th Fire’ series will be invited to be the guest speaker. (Diocese of Algoma)
Wish Drop-In Centre Society—Vancouver, B.C.
$14,860
Aboriginal Health & Safety Project
The focus of this project is to engage Aboriginal women, who work in the survival sex trade to participate, in culturally specific activities focusing on building self-esteem, and to make cultural connections to improve cultural identity. The program offers various workshops and activities; such as, button blanket making, cedar weaving, beadwork, storytelling, traditional teachings, sharing circles along with life skills building. It also provides community safety for the women through one-on-one support from the centre staff. The program is led by an Aboriginal coordinator who works with an Elder. (Diocese of New Westminster)