Finding Our Way Home

Indigenous cultures have been preserved and passed down for generations through oral history and traditions.

Storytelling is the fibre that connects us all to one another, and for many survivors of the residential school system, healing begins with storytelling. That’s why more than 15 years ago, survivors from Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Nation in Dawson City, Yukon, came together as K’änächá (Taking Care of Ourselves) to document their memories and experiences. They created a scrapbook, Tr’ëhuhch’in Näwtr’udäh’ą – Finding Our Way Home, that became a vital tool for education, healing and reconciliation. Yet, after more than a decade, no copies remain.

To give voices back to survivors, call attention to their experiences and allow others to learn about the legacy of residential schools, the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Government is reprinting 800 copies of Tr’ëhuhch’in Näwtr’udäh’ą – Finding Our Way Home. This scrapbook represents a path of healing and reconciliation, containing critical stories, memories and images thoughtfully curated by survivors of Yukon residential schools. Its reprint will be available to families, schools and community members as a tool for healing and education, and to teach visitors about the Nation’s Traditional Territory. 

Support from the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund (IRF) will ensure the reprint can operate smoothly and without delays. The IRF is proud to help the scrapbook reach more people and continue to serve as a bridge between survivors and future generations. This investment preserves the legacy of those who endured residential schools and keeps their truths alive for families, educators and all who seek to learn.

Diocese of Whitehorse