Three Indigenous organizations in British Columbia have received $1.5 million to support the mental health needs of residential school survivors and their families.
The money is part of $12 million in funding announced by the province in June after the discovery of what is believed to be the remains of more than 200 children at the site of the former residential school in Kamloops.
“We know that the findings at former residential schools are deeply painful and that more survivors and their families are reaching out to Indigenous service providers for support,” Murray Rankin, B.C.’s minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, said.
“As we approach Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30, it is important that we work with Indigenous partners to make sure mental health and cultural supports are available when they are needed.”
Rankin says Indigenous service providers have reported a dramatic increase in demand for mental health support since that discovery was reported in May.
Angela White, the Executive Director of the Indian Residential School Survivors Society, says there are as many 600 calls being logged every day by a crisis line set up shortly after the discovery in Kamloops. Her organization will be getting $750,000.
“Immediately after the 215 announcement, our call line was averaging probably anywhere – based on the call logs between the working hours of 8:30 to 4:30 – our call line was inundated with over 500 to 600 calls during those hours,” she said, noting she is expecting Thursday to be a busy day.
“We are as ready as we possibly can be. Our crisis line workers are separate from our resolution health support workers. They actually will monitor those phones leading up to and past Sept. 30th.”
White says the funding will make it possible to hire more clinical therapists and reduce wait lists.
“We have about 30 full-time staff and about 36 cultural supports that aren’t on a regular salary,” she said. “Each and every single one of those people are assigned to various organizations that have been requested – not just in BC, but we also have many virtual supports that have been requested from Ontario.”
Also receiving funding is the Tsow-Tun Le Lum Society, which is getting $500,000 so it can provide more in-person health and wellness, and Metis Nation BC, which will see Metis survivors get 10 free counselling sessions thanks to a $250,000 contribution.
“It’s often little known, but many Métis people across the country were victims of the Residential School system in Canada,” Lissa Smith, the acting president of Métis Nation BC said.
“With this much-needed funding, MNBC will reach out to Métis Residential School survivors and their families and provide much needed connection to community and address their needs with a focus on culturally relevant emotional and mental health services.”
The government also notes the BC Residential School Response Fund has to date provided five caretaker communities with a total of $2.4 million to support their efforts to identify, investigate, locate, document, protect and commemorate sites where children may be buried. First Nations or Tribal Councils can access up to $475,000 if they are the caretaker community or if they’re the co-ordinating body acting on behalf of caretaker communities.
“The trauma that Indigenous communities suffered and continue to suffer is difficult to put into words. It is so important to have mental health and wellness services that survivors and their families can trust and space for culturally relevant supports to ensure there is a healing path forward,” Lydia Hwitsum, the First Nations liaison for the residential schools response in B.C. said, in a statement.
Earlier in the day, Kamloops Mayor Ken Christian, encouraged all staff and residents to recognize the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation this Thursday, Sept. 30.
At 2:15 p.m. that day, Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc is organizing a worldwide drum circle while also encouraging people to learn the Secwepemc Honour Song so they can join in from home.
Support services for residential school survivors in British Columbia:
* The KUU-US Crisis Line Society provides a 24-hour, provincewide Indigenous crisis line for Indigenous peoples in B.C. Adults, call 250 723-4050. Children and youth, call 250 723-2040. Toll-free: 1 800 588-8717
* First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line for Indigenous people across Canada toll-free 1 855 242-3310 or chat online: https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/
* The Métis Crisis Line for Métis people in B.C., available 24 hours a day at 1 833 MétisBC: 1 833 638-4722
* Tsow Tun Le Lum for Indigenous peoples in B.C., phone: 1 888 403-3123
* Indian Residential School Survivors Society, phone: 1 800 721-0066 or 604 985-4464
* 24-Hour National Crisis Line for residential school survivors and others affected: 1 866 925-4419