Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program
Funded by First Nations, Inuit & Aboriginal Health
The Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program provides emotional support services to former Indian Residential School students and their families before, during and after their participation in Settlement Agreement processes, including the Common Experience Payments and the Independent Assessment Process, and those participating in Truth and Reconciliation Commission events and Commemoration activities.
Resolution Health Support Program Services are safe, confidential, respectful, and non-judgmental
Information for Former Indian Residential School students and their families
Program Eligibility
All former Indian Residential School students, regardless of the individual’s status or place of residence within Canada, who attended an Indian Residential School listed in the 2007 Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement are eligible for the Resolution Health Support Program.
In recognition of the inter-generational impacts that the Indian Residential Schools had on families, Resolution Health Support Program services are also available to family members of former Indian Residential Schools students. The family of former students is defined as:
- Spouse or partner,
- those raised by or raised in the household of a former Indian Residential School student, and
- any relation who has experienced effects of inter-generational trauma associated with a family member’s time at an Indian Residential School.
Health Canada verifies eligibility of persons requesting services with Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, which holds data on students who attended those Indian Residential Schools that are part of the 2007 Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.
Services Available
Emotional Support
Services are provided by local Aboriginal organizations and are designed to help former students and their families safely address issues related to Indian Residential Schools as well as the disclosure of abuse during the Settlement Agreement process. An aboriginal mental health worker will listen, talk and guide former students and their family members through all phases of the Settlement Agreement process.
Cultural Support
Cultural supports are provided by local Aboriginal organizations who coordinate the services of Elders and/or traditional healers. Cultural supports seek to assist students and their families to safely address issues related to Indian Residential Schools as well as the disclosure of abuse during the Settlement Agreement process. Specific services are determined by the needs of the individual and include dialogue, ceremonies, prayers, or traditional healing.
Professional Counselling
Professional counsellors are psychologists and other mental health professionals that are registered with Health Canada and have experience working with Aboriginal people. A professional counsellor will listen, talk and assist individuals to find ways of healing from Indian Residential School experiences.
Transportation
Will be coordinated by the Health Canada Regional Office when professional counselling and cultural support services are not locally available.
Accessing Health Support
For more information please contact the Regional Office:
British Columbia
5th Floor, Sinclair Centre Federal Tower
757 Hastings Street West
Vancouver, BC V6C 3E6
Telephone (toll-free): 1-877-477-0775 Teletypewriter: 1-800-267-1245 (Health Canada)
When you call the Health Canada regional office, they will request your name and date of birth in order to confirm that you are eligible to access services under the Indian Residential School Resolution Health Support Program. If you are a family member of a former student, the name and date of birth of the family member who attended residential school will be required to confirm your eligibility.
Once eligibility is confirmed, the Health Canada official will work with you to put you in contact with the health support services you require.