About

The Society

The Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS) is a provincial and non-profit organization that provides essential services to residential school survivors and families experiencing intergenerational trauma.

The IRSSS has been serving First Nations people in B.C. since 1994, just ten years after the last Indian Residential School closed in the province. Recently, the IRSSS has supported survivors and intergenerational survivors with triggering and distressing situations, including the uncovering of unmarked graves at Indian Residential Schools across the country, by providing emotional and cultural support as needed. 

The ever-changing and growing team at the IRSSS also provides dedicated and specialized services to support people, families and communities affected by Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). In addition, the IRSSS supports intergenerational survivors (aged 12-18) who are in the criminal justice system who seek culture as well as support with building healthy relationships.

Our History

The IRSSS began in 1994 as “The Residential School Project,” a working committee of the B.C. First Nations Summit. Our work primarily focused on assisting survivors with the litigation process pertaining to residential school abuses.

In March 2002, we formally became the IRSSS. The IRSSS is governed by an elected board of directors from six regions of B.C.; the members of the board of directors are also survivors or intergenerational survivors of residential schools. The board of directors is responsible for the funding of the organization and delegates its day-to-day duties to our executive director.

The organization acknowledges that every healing journey is sacred and individual.

Our Mandate

To assist First Nation Peoples in British Columbia to recognize and be holistically empowered from the primary and generational effect of the Residential Schools by supporting research, education, awareness, partnerships, and advocating for justice and healing. The Society assists Survivors with counselling, court support, information, referrals, workshops, and more.

Our Mission

We at the Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS) strive to provide physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual growth, development, and healing through culturally-based values and guiding principles for Survivors, Families, and Communities.

“Dreamweaver,” LAUREN BREVNER & JAMES HARRY (1055 Eveleigh St.)

Our Guiding Principles

We at the Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS) strive to provide physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual growth, development, and healing through culturally-based values and guiding principles for Survivors, Families, and Communities.

The work we do is important, and therefore we are guided by the following principles:

Dignity

  • Honour one and all.

  • Recognizing each person is on their healing journey. Their healing journey is individual and sacred.

  • Let’s value and treat each person with a significance of morals and ethics.

Respect

  • We are a caring and healing organization.

  • A respectful relationship is to understand each person brings different gifts and contributions.

  • We must commit to respectful relationships with ourselves, our partners and more importantly, the people we serve.

Empowerment

  • Healing is necessary.

  • We acknowledge the resilience of First Nations people, especially the survivors and students of the Indian Residential School System.

  • With the blend of knowledge and confidence, we will be the best role model we can be.

Culture

  • The gifts of our ancestors are powerful.

  • Respect the lands and protocols to which we stand. Acknowledge and be led by the cultures, ceremonies and teachings of First Nations elders, knowledge keepers, and those providing guidance.

  • Respect the protocols of the spiritual native.

Inclusivity

  • Every child matters.

  • Appreciating the diversity of all people we serve, and all members of the IRSSS. Working together with teamwork, being fully engaged and involved, as possible.

  • Creating positive experiences through unity and cooperation.

Visionary

  • The IRSSS understands transformation is required and change will happen. The continuous growth of the organization will support healing for the people we serve, from the elders to the youth.

  • With change comes learning, and members of the organization must be willing to be both a teacher, and the learner.

Insightful

  • To sustain and maintain a strong foundation for the work we do, there must be a clear and accurate understanding.

  • Development comes from within. Through development comes justice and equal opportunity.