In September of 2023, the Stó:lō Resource and Research Management Centre (SRRMC) team shared their findings about the treatment of children at St. Mary’s residential school. It was part of the Xyólhmet ye Syéwiqwélh (Taking Care of Our Children) project, and the event was called Qwōlqwel Swáyel (Talking together Day).
Thanks to some careful consideration and planning, it turned out to be a healing event. Part of Winchester’s role was to provide a trauma informed lens on the presentation. The knowledge that the SRRMC team shared was definitely heavy and sad. But the event provided space for people to safely feel their strong feelings. The Indian Residential School Survivors Society was there to help, so was the Qwí:qwelstóm team, and Stó:lō Service agency. By making it possible for people to safely feel their grief and sadness and anger, many people’s hearts were picked up and cared for in ways they’d never experienced.
The SRRMC team plans to conduct more sharing work like that again. It is something to look forward to as indigenous and non-indigenous people heal from the legacy of residential schools.