The "Ashes and Embers" documentary on the Delmas residential school will be shown at the conference. (Photo courtesy of Miyawata Culture Inc.)

By Angela Brown

Healing from trauma

BATC-Star Children project plans conference for IRS survivors

Mar 25, 2024 | 6:07 PM

The Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs Inc. (BATC) and the Acahkos Awasisak–Star Children project plan to hold a two-day conference with several guest speakers focusing on the impact of Indian Residential Schools (IRS).

The event, a meeting for IRS Survivors and their families, will take place March 27 and 28 at the Western Development Museum (WDM) in North Battleford.

Delano Mike, coordinator with the Acahkos Awasisak–Star Children project, is helping organize the conference.

Guest speakers will give presentations both days. Among the guest speakers’ talks will be an update on the search for possible missing children and unmarked graves at the former site of the Delmas residential school.

The documentary Ashes and Embers will also be shown.

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A gala event in the evening planned for March 27 is by invitation-only, but anyone who is interested can attend the conference component itself that runs both days until 4 p.m.

“What I’m hoping what [people will] get out of this conference is to make our survivors, whether direct survivors or indirect, to be more aware and educated on the effects that have plagued us for generations [from the residential school experience],” Mike said.

North Battleford Mayor David Gillan and Battleford Mayor Ames Leslie will also attend the event to speak at the gala on March 27, to share their thoughts on this important event that also aims to bring communities together and help bridge the gap.

The event will also help promote education and reconciliation.

“In terms of reconciliation, I believe that it’s up to the rest of society to educate themselves, or make themselves more aware of why we are the way we are,” Mike said.

He noted that many First Nation people struggle with addiction and societal challenges because they are dealing with complex trauma from the impact of residential schools on their families.

“When we talk about the socioeconomic issues that arise specifically in the Battlefords area, we have fallen into a lot of homelessness, gang activity and addiction,” Mike said. “This is why we [are facing these challenges].”

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angela.brown@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @battlefordsNOW