Ontario Supporting Indian Residential School Survivors, Families and Member First Nations in the Anishinabek Nation

Funding will promote public awareness and healing for 39 member First Nations

Ontario is providing $412,500 to support the Anishinabek Nation with a range of initiatives to educate and inform the public about the history and legacy of the Indian Residential School (IRS) System in its territory, and to help Survivors living in the 39 Anishinabek Nation member First Nations share their stories.

This funding will support commemoration, research and information sharing, as well as education, outreach, and support and advocacy for Survivors, their families, and communities. This funding is in addition to the IRS funding for communities that are leading burial investigations at former IRS sites across Ontario.

In addition, funding will support the implementation of a multi-media campaign that will create programming to combat the negative intergenerational affects caused by Indian Residential Schools while promoting healing and reconciliation. This funding will also help identify the current resources available within the Anishinabek Nation to respond to the mental health and trauma-related impact of ongoing and future IRS investigations and will help address the gaps Survivors continue to face.

“Our government is committed to providing a full range of financial supports for communities and regional organizations like the Anishinabek Nation,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs. “We continue to work with Indigenous partners to explore opportunities to deepen Ontarians’ collective awareness and understanding of the terrible legacy of the Indian Residential School System as we advance meaningful reconciliation.”

Ontario continues to seek direction from Indigenous partners on their funding needs for IRS burial investigations and related work and is committed to ensuring that communities and organizations can access funding and provincial supports to undertake this critical work.

Quick Facts

  • The Anishinabek Nation is a First Nation organization and political advocate representing 39 First Nations throughout the province of Ontario.
  • Roughly 8,000 of Canada’s estimated 80,000 Indian Residential School Survivors lived in Ontario at the time of the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement.
  • On October 29, 2021, the province announced an investment of more than $36 million in community-led mental health and addictions supports for Indigenous communities across the province, including supports for Indian Residential School Survivors and their families.
  • On November 4, 2021, the Ontario government announced it was committing an additional $10 million in funding, beyond the original $10 million announcement in June 2021, to support the identification, investigation, protection and commemoration of Indian Residential School burials across the province.
  • A National Residential School Crisis Line is available to provide support to former Indian Residential School students. You can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-Hour National Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419. There is also the Hope for Wellness Help Line at 1-855-242-3310, including an online chat function through their website.

Quotes

“We commend the Ontario Government’s efforts to support Indian Residential School initiatives for Anishinabek communities. This investment will support important public education components of the history, legacy, and impacts that Residential Schools have had on our Nation. Most importantly, it will help encourage Survivors and families to come together to share their stories of healing, strength, and survival.”

– Grand Council Chief Reg Niganobe
Anishinabek Nation

Additional Resources

Author: Pete Fisher

Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love

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