A healing event is planned for fomer students of the Alberni Indian Residential School, including those who died in the institution. The two-day event takes place Sept. 27 – 28 at Maht Mahs, beginning with a commemoration ceremony for the young lives lost at AIRS followed by a cleansing ceremony of the grounds.
In 2015 the Truth and Reconciliation Commission estimated approximately 6,000 children died in residential schools. A total of 150,000 Indigenous children attended the assimilationist institutions over their century and a half of operating in Canada.
Now the Tseshaht want these lost souls to be brought home, regardless of how far away the children’s families and tribes are to the former AIRS site. An invitation has been sent to 203 First Nations in B.C. “to honour those children who lost their lives while at the Alberni Indian Residential School,” reads a press release issued by Tseshaht First Nation on Aug. 2.
The two-day event takes place Sept. 27 – 28, beginning with a commemoration ceremony for the young lives lost at AIRS followed by a cleansing ceremony of the grounds. In addition, people will be invited to take part in other cleansing ceremonies, including traditional brushing. It is hoped that by doing these ceremonies healing can begin and people can have closure.
Travel assistance is available on a first-come-first-served basis.