Bringing our Children Home Initiative
The Bringing Our Children Home Initiative is led by Lac Seul First Nation, representing 33 First Nations communities in developing protocols for healing, gathering, communication, searches / findings and repatriation of survivors of Indian Residential Schools operating in Treaty #3 Territory
Background
On May 28, 2021, when the communities heard the report from the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc First Nation that the remains of 215 children were found at a former Kamloops Indian Residential School grounds, some of the children discovered being as young as three years old, the news was shocking and devastating.
As authorized by Chiefs-in Assembly Resolution #21-17, Lac Seul put forward a proposal to start the search for missing children at the former Pelican Lake Indian Residential School, Zone Indian Hospital and Local and Municipal cemeteries.
Objectives
- Uncover the truth
- Bringing our children home
- Honour the children
- Ceremony and healing
- Contribute to the public education on the legacy of residential schools
- Contribute to the memorializations of commemoration of Survivors
Methods
- Community engagement sessions
- Interviews with Survivors
- Newsletters and communication pieces
- Research into Pelican Lake Indian Residential School
- Story and historical record collection
- Ground searches
- Designing memorials
- Repatriating records to affected communities
Survivors Working Circle
The Survivors Working Group will support the overall development of the protocols and guides for research collection, healing processes, and identifying survivor needs.
Communities
- Aroland
- Bearskin Lake
- Cat Lake
- Deer Lake
- Eabametoong
- Fort Severn
- Kasabonika Lake
- Keewaywin
- Kingfisher Lake
- Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug
- Koocheching
- Lac Seul
- MacDowell Lake
- Marten Falls
- Migisi Sahgaigan
- Mishkeegogamang
- Muskrat Dam
- Neskantaga
- Nibinamik
- North Spirit Lake
- Pikangikum
- Poplar Hill
- Sachigo Lake
- Sandy Lake
- Saugeen
- Slate Falls
- Wabauskang
- Wabigoon Lake
- Wapekeka
- Wawakapewin
- Weagamow Lake
- Webequie
- Wunnumin Lake
Newsletters
Contact
Barbara Ruotsalainen; Director of Bringing our Children Home Initiative
807-738-3282
Visit BringingOurChildrenHome@lacseulfn.org for more information.