Healing Through Connection

The intergenerational trauma of residential schools continues to impact Indigenous communities across Canada. From 1831 to 1996, more than 150,000 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children were forcibly separated from their families and communities. This system aimed to erase Indigenous languages, cultures, and ways of being, creating profound wounds that continue to affect multiple generations.

Why These Gatherings Matter

Our Elders’ Wisdom and Youth Legacy Gathering program creates sacred spaces where:

For Survivors

• Voices can be heard and experiences acknowledged
• Traditional healing practices can be accessed and shared
• Community support and understanding can help ease isolation
• Cultural strength can be reclaimed and celebrated
• Wisdom and teachings can be passed to younger generations on their own terms

For Youth

• Direct connections with Elders and knowledge keepers can be formed
• Understanding of their history and identity can be deepened
• Traditional teachings can be received in a supportive environment
• Pride in cultural heritage can be strengthened
• Tools for carrying forward cultural knowledge can be developed

For Community

• Collective healing can take place through shared experiences
• Traditional knowledge can be preserved and revitalized
• Intergenerational bonds can be strengthened
• Cultural continuity can be maintained
• Resilience can be built through unity and understanding

Our Approach to Healing

We recognize that healing from residential school trauma requires:

• Safe, culturally-grounded spaces
• Recognition of individual and collective experiences
• Access to traditional healing practices
• Connection to language and culture
• Support from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities
• Opportunities for intergenerational dialogue
• Resources for ongoing healing and wellness

Program Elements

Cultural Activities

• Traditional language learning
• Ceremonial practices
• Land-based teachings
• Cultural arts and crafts
• Traditional food preparation
• Storytelling circles

Healing Practices

• Traditional healing ceremonies
• Talking circles
• One-on-one Elder support
• Cultural counseling
• Land-based healing activities
• Collective commemoration activities

Knowledge Transfer

• Oral history documentation
• Traditional skills workshops
• Cultural mentorship opportunities
• Youth leadership development
• Community archive creation
• Digital storytelling projects

Community Impact

Through these gatherings, we work to:

• Break cycles of intergenerational trauma
• Strengthen cultural identity and pride
• Build resilient community connections
• Preserve essential cultural knowledge
• Create paths for ongoing healing
• Empower future generations

Our program recognizes that healing is a journey, not a destination. By bringing together Survivors, Elders, youth, and community members, we create spaces where healing can occur naturally through cultural connection, shared understanding, and collective support.