Taking care: We recognize this news release may contain information that is difficult for many and that our efforts to honour Survivors and families may act as an unwelcome reminder for those who have suffered hardships through generations of government policies that were harmful to Indigenous Peoples.
A national residential school crisis line offers emotional support and crisis referral services for residential school Survivors and their families. Call the toll-free Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The Hope for Wellness Help line also offers support to all Indigenous Peoples. Counsellors are available by phone or online chat. This service is available in English and French, and, upon request, in Cree, Ojibway, and Inuktitut. Call the toll-free Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 or connect to the online chat at www.hopeforwellness.ca
The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Crisis Line is available to provide emotional support and crisis referral services to individuals impacted by the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals. Call the toll-free Crisis Line at 1-844-413-6649. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
March 6, 2024- Inuvik, Northwest Territories - Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
Addressing the harms suffered by Survivors, their families and communities is at the heart of reconciliation and is essential to renewing and building relationships with Indigenous partners, communities, and governments in Canada.
That is why today, Duane Smith, Chair and CEO of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC), and the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, met to announce important initiatives and undertake discussions to drive real progress on reconciliation in Canada:
- Inuvialuit Residential Schools Missing Children Initiative to Locate, Document and Memorialize Burial Sites will receive $854,437 in funding over two years to support the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation to conduct research, knowledge gathering, commemoration and community engagement work related to nine former residential schools (Shingle Point in the Yukon and Hay River Anglican, All Saints, Fort McPherson, Grollier Hall, Stringer Hall, Akaitcho Hall, Grandin College, and Breynat Hall all located in the NWT). These schools were attended by children from the communities of Aklavik, Inuvik, Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour, Tuktoyaktuk and Ulukhaktok.
- Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Advancing Reconciliation between IRC and Canada was signed today to help guide the work of IRC and Canada as treaty partners to advance reconciliation and renew their Inuit-Crown relationship. This MOU will strengthen a respectful Inuit-Crown relationship and help to establish a process to discuss matters of importance for Inuvialuit. This MOU helps implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act by responding to measure #24 in the action plan: "Remove and address jointly identified barriers to settlement, and co-develop approaches for the implementation of the right to self-determination through treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements, as well as through new policies and legislative mechanisms."
- Inuvialuit Family Wellness Centre is a new shelter project, funded as part of a larger investment of $85 million from the Government of Canada, that will provide culturally safe and trauma-informed services and supports for survivors of violence and their families. This project ensures that there is a place of refuge in Inuvik for Indigenous women to access support programming and create a stable environment where they can begin to regain an independent life. As we work to put an end to the national, ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit and gender-diverse people, the Government of Canada will continue to address the urgent need for new shelters and transitional housing for First Nations, Inuit and Métis across the country including on reserve, in the North and in urban areas.
These in-community discussions and funding supports are an important part of Canada's work with Indigenous partners to advance reconciliation, dismantle a colonial legacy of racism, broken promises and denial of rights and build renewed and transformed relationships together.
