40 projects funded totaling at $487,563

Aboriginal Front Door Society
Honourable Warriors Circle and Open Healing Circles for Residential School Survivors
The project will provide weekly healing circles for residential school survivors, a daytime healing circle for men to complement the healing circle already in place. The society has an excellent record of providing successful programs to Aboriginal men and women in the Downtown Eastside using traditional teachings as the foundation to encourage health, healing and responsibility towards self and others. (Diocese of New Westminster)

Aboriginal Kateri Service
Aboriginal Kateri Service Project
The Kateri Service of Geraldton is a Christian Native Ministry with a Catholic Orientation, committed to the healing and reconciliation of aboriginal people. Kateri Service offers a variety of services to aboriginal people through the blending of their culture and traditions with Christian spirituality and values. The grant allow the local group to continue the healing work through home visits to the sick and shut ins, referral services, personal healing prayer, spiritual guidance, healing circles, cultural teachings and ceremonies, celebrations and feasts, Annual Kateri Native Ministry Conferences, etc. (Diocese of Moosonee)

All Saints Survivors Inc.
All Saints Survivors
This community based healing project will be designed by residential school survivors for residential school survivors and family members. The project will address the residential school abuses including its intergenerational impacts. This healing project will create an opportunity and open doors for survivors and their families to heal by using traditional healing approaches: Medicine Wheel, Circle of life, Feasts, Fasts, Sweats, Sun Dance, Round Dance, Pow-wows, Naming Ceremonies, Talking and Healing Circles. (Diocese of Saskatchewan)

All Saints Survivors Inc.
All Saints Survivors
The project will enable the survivors and their families to participate in traditional practices and teachings, attend talking and healing circles, learn self-care, learn about themselves and their history as people, and begin or continue on a healing journey. It will also provide a forum where survivors can learn and understand the Independent Assessment Process (IAP). (Diocese of Saskatchewan)

Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples
The Sixth Anglican Indigenous Sacred Circle
The project will enable a number of individuals to attend the Sixth Anglican Indigenous Sacred Circle to be held in Vancouver, BC on August 17-23, 2008. The Sacred Circle is one of the most significant healing gatherings for the Indigenous Anglicans in Canada. (National Office)

Anglican Youth Group
Youth Healing Conference
The purpose of the conference is to help heal the youth in Pond Inlet and other north Baffin communities. It is to help them have a sense of pride in their lives and give them ways of how to deal with hopelessness. The youth deal with many issues, such as, suicide, grieving, drug abuse, depression, teenage pregnancy, abortions, sexual abuse, spousal abuse, bullying, etc. (Diocese of Artic)

Arrowhead Foundation Operating as Ishaawin Family Resources
Healing Resources in Recovery from Abuse for Oji-Cree Speakers
The purpose of the project is to sponsor 3 people to attend Survivors of Abuse Leadership Training Seminar in April 2008. The three candidates must be fluent in the Oji-Cree language so that they can be involved in the development of Oji-Cree language teaching resources. SALTS is a 5-day intensive training seminar for survivors of abuse who wish to advance in their healing journey, and to gain skills so that they can lead others in healing journeys. (Diocese of Algoma)

Brantford Native Housing
Saw^nislioste “Better Day Coming”
The Saw^nisliyoste (Better Day Coming) project emphasizes respect for the individual, re-creation of the person, and development of a sense of self-worth and self-esteem through cultural revitalization. The project is implemented through cultural workshops, life skills training seminars, and traditional teaching classes. The program is based upon the experience of intergenerational affects of the Residential School System. (Diocese of Huron)

Creating Hope Society in Alberta
Reclaiming & Restoring the Aboriginal Family
The purpose of this project is to develop a support group for families and communities impacted by the residential school and the child welfare systems. The program is designed for the participants to understand what happened when they were removed from their families and community; why it happened and begin to come to terms with the events. They will discover their personal background and have an opportunity to re-establish family/community ties. (Diocese of Edmonton)

Dr. William Winter School of Ministry
Language Development
The First Nation communities in this area are working together towards self-determination, and language and healing is part of that process. This project will allow translation of documents required and interpretation services needed to facilitate the communications for all members of the 17 First Nations communities involved with this project. (Diocese of Keewatin)

Fort Frances Tribal Area Health Services Inc. Counselling Unit
Men’s Group & Healing Conference
The project is to set up a men’s healing group with representatives from the ten surrounding First Nation communities. The group will hold a 4-day gathering in March 2008 in Fort Frances where the participants will have an opportunity to work with psychologists. At this gathering, the mane will begin to examine and address their trauma and abuse issues from the residential school system and the intergenerational impacts. (Diocese of Keewatin)

Friends of Mother Earth
4th Annual Voices of Tomorrow Youth & Elders Gathering
The Ojibways of Pic River is seeking funds to hold a 4-day Voices of Tomorrow Youth Gathering. The 4-day gathering will host approximately 200 youth and elders. The gathering will be open to all youth and elders of all races. Follow-up will be on an on-going basis through continued community support groups, healing circles, traditional ceremonies and future youth and elders’ gatherings. (Diocese of Algoma)

Hummingbird Ministries
Aboriginal Leadership in Ministry Development
A Ministry of the Presbytery of Westminster of The Presbyterian Church in Canada
Aboriginal Leadership in Ministry Development
The Aboriginal Leadership in Ministry Development Project is an Aboriginal directed initiative which looks to the Aboriginal community for leadership in defining the needs of our own spirituality and the development of an “Aboriginal ministry” created by dialogue in Sacred Circles, gatherings and workshops within our own community. Through the lens of Aboriginal focus groups the project seeks to define what our own people see as “ministry”, what the methodology of that ministry could look like and the range of spiritual issues and needs to be supported within the proposed ministry. (Diocese of New Westminster)

Kanien’kenhá:ka Aotióhkwa Tehatiwennaténie Kahiatonhseratokénhti
The Mohawk Bible Translation Project
This is an on-going Mohawk bible translation work and training of translators. (Diocese of Montreal)

Lake of the Woods Ojibway Cultural Centre
Residential School Healing Gathering
Lake of the Woods Cultural Centre on behalf of the Anishinabek Survivors of Residential Schools proposes to hold a Reunion and Traditional Gathering at the site of the McIntosh Residential School. McIntosh Residential School was a Catholic operated school – opened 1924 and closed 1969. (Diocese of Keewatin)

Native Communication Society of the NWT
The Sacred Circle Project
Sacred Circle is a grass roots community development project began in January 2002 as an alternative method of healing for women. Today, the aim of this project is to support a growing community of people who are ‘walking the red path’, meaning living a life that is alcohol, drug and crime free. (Diocese of Yukon)

Neskonlith Indian Band
Strengthening Our Spirits
This project is to assist the men in rebuilding their self esteem; to learn how to reconcile their relationships with self and others; to learn how to forgive the people who have hurt them in the past whether these issues are physical – sexual, emotional, spiritual or mental, etc. Most importantly, the men will learn how to reconcile with self about the loss of their cultural identity through the utilization of variety of cultural modalities. (Diocese of Kootenay)

Nicola Valley Institute of Technology
Feeding Our Spirits; Healing Our Hearts
This proposed project is to hold an educational conference for approximately 200 people: Elders, social work students, and community professionals. The event will bring in an acknowledged expert in the field of healing the legacy of residential school, and provide healing activities aimed at improving participant’s self-care and self-awareness around residential school issues. This gathering will assist graduates of the social work program who are working in their home communities and are unable to access professional education and training. Many of these graduates are themselves residential school survivors and have expressed a need to learn more abut how to help themselves and their clients. (Diocese of Caledonia)

Nokee Kwe Occupational Skill Development Inc.
Language, the Healing Portal
Nokee Kee will continue to offer Oneida and Ojibwa classes beginning June 2007. Ojibwa language classes will begin in June and run for 6 months (25 weeks), while the Oneida classes will begin January 2008 and also run for 6 months (25 weeks). The goal is to help preserve these two languages so that the future generations can also learn to speak their Mother tongue. (Diocese of Huron)

North East Native Advancement Society
Generation Bridging Through Mentoring
The overall purpose of the project is to formally reintegrate Elders into all aspects of the agency’s operation including: planning, guidance, mentoring and support to the current programs that seek to work with families negatively impacted by residential school system. This means having Elder involvement at a level of Board of Directors, right down to working with the program coordinators and workers both to teach them and to participate in guiding their support to families and individuals. (Diocese of New Westminster)

Okanagan Nation Transition Emergency House
Willow Bundle Healing Circles for Okanagan Nation Communities Project
To promote healing, there will be a series of healing circles for Aboriginal women living in Penticton and in the surrounding First Nation communities. Topics of discussion and learning will be selected by the women themselves but will include: intergeneration impact of residential schools on family systems, cycle of violence, self-esteem, traditional parenting, spirituality, etc. (Diocese of Kootenay)

Opaskwayak Cree Nation Residential School Survivors
Revelation Workshop and Gospel Jamboree Project
To hold a series of healing workshops and a gospel jamboree once a year for a period of 4 years.
The events will consist of 5-day timeframes that will focus on the spiritual, mental, emotional and physical aspects of self-development and healing. (Diocese of Brandon)

Prince George Dakelh Elders Society
Heal us Inside and Outside: Alternative Indigenous Approach
The will begin a healing process for Aboriginal inmates while incarceration. A series of workshops will be offered that include traditional and spiritual techniques using Aboriginal Elders and non-Aboriginal healers. (Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior)

Rupert’s Land Aboriginal Circle
St. John’s Park Sacred Gathering
To hold a 3-day Sacred Gathering at St. John’s Cathedral and St. John’s Park in the north end of Winnipeg. The gathering will focus on neighbourhood healing and reconciliation utilizing bible studies, sharing circles, healing circles, story telling, healing liturgies and a gospel jamboree. (Diocese of Rupert’s Land)

Spirit of the People
Surviving Residential Schools Offenders & Ex-Offenders & their Descendents Project
To continue the work with Residential School Survivors, offenders and ex-offenders and their descendents to begin the healing process, and to continue providing direct services and referral programs for Aboriginal offenders, ex-offenders and youth. (Diocese of Toronto)

Squamish Nation
31st Annual BC Elders Gathering
The 31st Annual BC Elders Gathering will take place in North Vancouver and the Squamish Valley. The Gathering will help strengthen ties with First Nations from throughout BC and bring together family and friends to celebrate. Elders will have the opportunity to share memories, create new friendships and to renew old ones. The theme for this year’s Gathering is “Health and Wellness.” (Diocese of New Westminster)

St. Clements Anglican Church
2nd Generation Healing Gospel Gathering
The purpose of the project is to hold a 3-day community healing gathering for survivors of the residential schools and the survivors of Ralph Rowe. A number of healing workshops will be offered during the 3-day period. Gospel singing will take place in the evening where everyone is invited to participate. A feast will be held at a closing of the event. (Diocese of Keewatin)

St. John Divine Prayer Group
Believing in Faith Through Healing and Reconciliation
The intent of this project is to provide an opportunity and a vehicle for community members who are seeking healing from the legacy of the residential school system. The Prayer Group will initiate a number of workshops that will lead towards healing, capacity building, and create a circle of support for the participants. The healing approaches in this initiative will be both traditional and Christian based. (Diocese of Caledonia)

St. John’s Anglican Church
Gospel Jamboree
St. John’s Anglican Church purposes to host a first community gospel jamboree and healing gathering. A number of people from Thompson and Split Lake Manitoba will be invited to lead the gospel jamboree, as well as Native Communications Inc. from Manitoba who will broadcast the event. (Diocese of Quebec)

Stolo Nation – Social Development Dept.
Reuniting the Family
The project is to hold a 4-day healing gathering in May 2008. There will be a series of workshops will be offered on traditional and western healing strategies, preservation of cultural crafts, and herbal medicines. (Diocese of New Westminster)

Toronto Council Fire Cultural Centre
Naandwedizwin-Wechihitita Project (Healing Our Selves–Helping Each Other)
This project will provide on-going outreach, education, support and services to survivors and those who have suffered inter-generational impacts of residential school impacted. The project will provide a blend of healing approaches to mental healing with traditional and alternative approaches. It will also promote church involvement in the planning and implementation of the project. (Diocese of Toronto)

Touchwood Agency Tribal Council
TATC Cultural Language Retention Camp of the Cree and Saulteaux People
To host a 7-day cultural language retention camp where the participants will be expected to communicate in Cree or Saulteaux for the duration of their stay. Elders who are fluent in one of the languages will be the instructors and facilitators for the camp. Participants will learn a a number of skills; such as, traditional skills required to live on the land, personal life skills, language skills – all that will build self-esteem. (Diocese of Quebec)

Tr’ondek Hwech’in First Nation
K’anacha (Taking Care) Scrapbook Project
This is phase II of the Scrapbook Project – and it involves publishing the original scrapbook so that copies can be made available for educational purposes and make it available to a broader audience. The overall purpose of the scrapbook project has been ‘to see the past, to understand the present and to move towards a healthy future. (Diocese of Yukon)

Ts’kw’aylaxw First Nation
Ts’kw’aylaxwemc Healing & Wellness Project
The project will offer community-healing workshops on a bi-weekly basis, support group, healing circles, and cultural classes with Elders on a weekly basis; plus host a community gathering. The cultural classes will be offered to all community members and will include: language, teachings of traditions, etc. The community gathering will promote community unity and family togetherness. (Anglican Parishes of Central Interior)

Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society
Value of Story Telling
This project is to build relationships between Elders and Youth from the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre. Elders will share their stories in a traditional way and the Youth will do historical research to set the context of the lives of the Elders they interview. The Youth will combine the information they gather from the Elders and their own research and do a presentation. (Diocese of New Westminster)

Vancouver Native Health Society
In partnership with Wish Drop-In Centre Society
Aboriginal Health & Safety Project for Women in the Sex Trade
The central focus of this project is to engage Aboriginal women who work in the survival sex trade in culturally specific activities that will contribute to their healing, build self-esteem, as well as provide skill-building opportunities. The program conducts two 6-month programs per year each with the capacity to enroll 6 participants. (Diocese of New Westminster)

Wabun Tribal Council
Brunswich House First Nation Indigenous Youth Healing Camp
The project involves offering community workshops and establishing an indigenous healing camp where the local community Elders will participate and/or lead the youth in land based activities. This project is meant to be a bridge between the generational gaps that exists among the older and younger generation by stressing the importance of identity, pride and personal well-being. (Diocese of Moosonee)

Wasaya Wee-Chee-Way-Win Inc.
Northern Ontario Residential School Healing and Cultural Project
The project will enable the development of a coordinated residential schools healing strategy among nine northwestern Ontario First Nation communities. The healing program will enable communities to collaborate on sharing of resources, offer workshops on creating awareness on the effects of residential school legacy, etc. (Diocese of Keewatin)

Yuu-Hadaax & Vancouver School of Theology
God is Still Red Symposium
God is Red Symposium will present papers and offer discussion exploring issues of First Nations leadership. Session will offer critical analysis, knowledge of traditions and an ability to interpret, re-imagine and revise them in new contexts, and develop and maintain mutual networks of support and accountability. (Diocese of New Westminster)