HEALING AND RECONCILIATION FOR COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES
Bilijk First Nation Honours Residential School Survivors
Mādahòkì Farm in Ottawa’s Green Belt is Canada’s only Indigenous agri-tourism destination and working farm. It is dedicated to preserving Indigenous culture and heritage through projects, training programs, and cultural events.
Bilijk First Nation, located along the Saint John River in New Brunswick, is home to nearly 700 on-reserve members.
The community is looking to create a special space to honour its residential school Survivors – a place where Survivors, their families and visitors can come together to remember, reflect and heal.
The nation is planning a stone monument engraved with the names of all its residential school Survivors. Surrounding the monument will be benches for people to sit and gather, along with a fire pit for Sacred Fire ceremonies.
The space will also help raise awareness and educate future generations about the impact of residential schools and be used for events like National Day of Truth and Reconciliation (“Orange Shirt Day”), the day we reflect on the legacy of residential schools and remind everyone that “Every Child Matters.”
A grant from the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) will help bring this project to life, covering the costs of the monument, landscaping and construction of the fire pit.
This new gathering place will be a space of healing, learning and hope for the entire community. Through this project, Bilijk First Nation is ensuring that the stories of its Survivors are honoured and their legacy is passed on to future generations.
Diocese of Saint John
