• Educating Through Art: Balcarres Community School’s Tribute to Truth and Reconciliation

    In 2023, Balcarres Community School in Saskatchewan embarked on an initiative to engage students, many of whom are members of neighbouring First Nation communities, in truth and reconciliation. Under the guidance of their teachers, students produced artwork that depicts the 94 Calls to Action outlined by the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada.

  • Community Support Amidst Adversity: Sacred Heart Church’s Outreach Ministry

    Sacred Heart Church has initiated an Outreach Ministry to address the pressing needs of its community members. By offering bag lunches, emergency hampers, and clothing items, the church helps lighten the struggles faced by individuals and families, many of whom are of First Nations or Métis backgrounds.

  • Healing Trauma Through Cultural Teachings

    The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) was established to facilitate reconciliation among Residential School Survivors, their families, their communities and all Canadians. By travelling to all parts of Canada and hearing from more than 6,500 witnesses, the TRC created a historical record of the residential school system.

  • Elders Ministry at Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples

    To this day, the intergenerational trauma caused by the Residential School System has left many Indigenous people in need of healing and reconciliation. At Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples in Edmonton, Alberta, an Elders Ministry plays an important role in offering spiritual guidance and counseling to those in need

  • A healing pavilion for the Our Lady of Mercy Parish

    As part of their commitment to the Enoch Cree Nation and the Truth and Reconciliation of Canada, Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Edmonton, Alberta, is devoted to restoring a foundation of shared faith and tradition with Indigenous community members.

    The Parish is planning to build a healing pavilion, featuring aisles and a platform, and surrounded by traditional gardens.

  • Commemorating the Papal Visit to Maskwacis

    In 2022, Pope Francis made a historic visit to Canada, standing before residential school survivors and their families in Maskwacis, Alberta, and offering an apology on behalf of the Catholic Church for its involvement in the residential school system.

    The Parish is planning to build a healing pavilion, featuring aisles and a platform, and surrounded by traditional gardens.

  • Expanding the Circle of Courage at M.E. LaZerte High School

    M.E. LaZerte High School in Edmonton, Alberta is an educational hub for nearly 9,000 students from 15 elementary and junior high schools. The student population represents over 80 cultural backgrounds and 70 languages, with many students identifying as First Nation, Métis, or Inuit, emphasizing the rich diversity that shapes the school's community.

  • Unearthing Truth: Locating Unmarked Graves

    For over a century, Indigenous children endured the traumatic experience of Indian Residential Schools in Canada, and the haunting legacy continues with the search for those who never returned home. Many Indigenous Nations are actively seeking their lost children, employing archaeological remote sensing and geophysics to locate potential burial sites. However, limited support and resources hinder these crucial efforts.

  • Healing Indigenous families – The Mother Bear Wellness Project

    The effects of intergenerational trauma and the legacy of residential schools have contributed to the breakdown of the family unit in many Indigenous communities, often resulting in family crisis, dysfunction, and substance abuse. Recognizing the need for holistic healing that addresses the entire family unit, Bearwoman & Associates, through its non-profit arm, Heart Spirit Healing and Wellness, introduces the Mother Bear Wellness Project.

  • Healing and Reconciliation for Indigenous Elders and Seniors

    The scars of historical injustices weigh heavily on Indigenous Elders and seniors, creating a pressing need for healing, reconciliation, and cultural revitalization. The Edmonton Aboriginal Seniors Centre (EASC), with its over 300 members, knows all too well the profound impact of intergenerational trauma, loss of cultural knowledge, and fractured identities on its community.