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National Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Many Voices, Many Nations Virtual Event

Thank you for joining us on June 21st as we celebrated Indigenous culture, heard a dedication to the victims of Residential Schools and learned more about Archway’s work on Indigenous inclusion.

Unfortunately we had some technical difficulties during the first half of the event due to myriad of reasons. We apologize for the disruptions and thank you for sticking with us despite them.

We have shared the full event video below with some editing to remove or replace parts with technical difficulties. Some of the elements that had the most technically difficulties are also available as individual videos below the main video, along with the poem read by author Kihci Têpakohp Iskotêw Iskwêw (Emily Jane Henry) and support resources available.  

Full Event Video

Elder’s Prayer by Jean Wasegijig

Song & Land Acknowledgement by Carman Mckay

Archway’s Work on Indigenous Inclusion

We Searched For You

We searched for you
You were supposed to come home.
Instead, the robes came.
They told us that you ran away.
We told them that you would never run away.
We told them that you were too young to run away.
We told them that you were afraid of the dark.
We begged them to find you.
We begged them for mercy.
We begged them to pray to their god for help.
They stood there, firm.
They stood there, cold.
They stood there, unfeeling.
They said that you ran away.
They said they had been looking for months.
They said you weren’t going to come home.
They were right, you didn’t come home.
Your dad and I searched for you.
Your siblings and grandparents searched for you.
Your aunts, uncles and relatives searched for you.
We couldn’t find you.
You began to appear in our dreams.
You were always near the school.
You told us that you did not run away.
We searched again and again.
Your grandparents searched until they died.
Your dad searched until he died.
A few days ago, I found you.
I heard it on the news.
They said the number ‘215’.
I felt you jump for joy.
You were found.

I told them that you wouldn’t run away.

Kākithaw niwākomākanak (All my Relations),
Kihci Têpakohp Iskotêw Iskwêw (Emily Jane Henry)

Support Services Available

If learning about residential schools causes a person distress, they can reach out the following numbers to speak about their feelings:

  • Support is available for anyone affected by the lingering effects of residential schools, and those who are triggered by the latest reports. The Indian Residential School Survivors Society can be contacted toll-free at 1-800-721-0066.

 

  • A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for former students and those affected. Access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866-925-4419.

 

  • Within B.C., the KUU-US Crisis Line Society provides a First Nations and Indigenous-specific crisis line available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It’s toll free and can be reached at 1-800-588-8717 or online at kuu-uscrisisline.com.

Our Event Featured:

  • Kihci Têpakohp Iskotêw Iskwêw (Emily Henry), Archway Board Member
  • Elder Jean Wasegijig
  • Carman Mckay, AKA Helping Others AKA Lizard Warrior
  • Mikisiw iskwêw (Brookie Miller)
  • Steve Carlton, Archway Board President
  • Rod Santiago, Archway Executive Director

We acknowledge that we gather on the traditional unceded territory of the Stó:lō people. We give them thanks for sharing their land and resources with us.

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