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By Fraser-Nicola MLA Jackie Tegart

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AS WE CONTINUE TO GRIEVE the loss of 215 children at the Kamloops Indian Reservation School, there are a number of resources available to help people through this incredibly painful time.

While the discovery of these lost children has shaken all of us, it has brought up incredible trauma for residential school survivors and their loved ones. Painful memories have been triggered all over again.

If you are a former residential school student in distress or have been affected by the residential school system and want to talk to someone, you can call the Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419, day or night. Emotional and crisis referral services are available through this toll-free number. In addition, the KUU-US Crisis Line Society provides a First Nations and Indigenous-specific toll-free service at 1-800-588-8717.

The Hope for Wellness Help Line offers immediate mental health counselling and crisis intervention by phone or 1-855-242-3310. If you prefer to connect with a counsellor online, a chat feature is available at www.hopeforwellness.ca. There is also a Métis Crisis Line, offered by Métis Nation British Columbia, at 1-833-MétisBC (1-833-638-4722). The First Nations Health Authority lists other culturally-safe supports on its website at www.fnha.ca.

Meanwhile, there are also many resources available for people who want to learn more about the residential school system and more broadly, about First Nations history.

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Behind Closed Doors is a 2006 publication by the Secwepemc Cultural Education Society and Theytus Books that features written testimonials from 32 individuals who attended the Kamloops Indian Residential School. It’s important to note the process that was followed in putting this book together. When survivors came forward to tell their stories, they were provided with either a traditional healer or Western councillor to help them deal with the trauma they had experienced and assist with their healing journey. The e-book as well as a PDF version are available through Theytus Books by emailing marketing@theytus.com. Hard copies may be available at the end of July.

Please consider reading the calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which are aimed at advancing the reconciliation process. The Commission documented the history of the residential school system, giving survivors the opportunity to share their experiences, and outlined the lasting impacts on survivors and their families.

You may also consider participating in one of the many Indigenous programs or perspectives offered at local post-secondary institutions such as Thompson Rivers University (TRU) and the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT). TRU’s website also includes a variety of educational resources, with links to other sources of information as well.

These are just a few educational resources on residential schools — in Indigenous peoples’ voices — to gain a better understanding of this reprehensible system and its impacts that continue to be felt to this day. This learning exercise will be crucial if we are to work together to achieve true reconciliation.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.