Gathering in Fort Smith, N.W.T., 'first step' in longer journey toward healing
CBC
The Northwest Territory Métis Nation is holding a gathering in Fort Smith, N.W.T., this week. The Resting Near Big Waters Gathering is a journey of healing, remembrance, and honour.
The event is a part of a larger project that is expected to eventually include recordings of residential school survivors' telling of their experiences. It may also include the use of ground-penetrating radar to help find potential unmarked graves at former residential schools in the N.W.T.
The gathering this week is being held at the Roaring Rapids Hall and continues until Thursday. Members are being invited to help inform the direction the project takes, and to share stories.
Garry Bailey, president of the Northwest Territory Métis Nation, said it's important for the community's healing.
This gathering is the beginning of the larger project. Bailey said they want to hear what the members have to say about how it should proceed.
That includes deciding how to approach a potential search using ground-penetrating radar, which can be an emotional subject for many.
"It's the first step, there's still a long way to go yet. But it takes, they say, 10 generations to heal. So I think it's going to be a long process for sure," he said.
It's important to recognize the past trauma of people who suffered from residential schools, and to try to find ways to move forward with healing and wellness, Bailey said.
Bailey wants the project to reach the youth and help with their healing as well.
"I think our youth are lost right now. There's a lot of drug problems going on," he said.
"I think that respect of the past, of the hardship that our elders have lived, isn't being recognized enough to move forward and better yourself."
Bailey also hopes that the process and conclusion of the Resting Near Big Waters project will give some comfort to all the people who still live with trauma from residential schools.
"[I hope] that it gives them knowledge to move forward and say, 'what happened was wrong ... But I'm OK now, and we're gonna move on, and try to better our lives for future generations,'" he said.
Jake Heron is the chief negotiator for the Northwest Territory Métis Nation and a participant at this week's event. He said it's an important gathering to start a process that will hopefully bring the community back together.
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