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Frequently Asked Questions.

Do you have questions about the Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS) and what we do? Here’s some answers to our most common FAQs .

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Donation FAQs

  • The Indian Residential School Survivors Society is a registered Canadian charity and able to issue tax receipts. Our charitable number 864829536 RR0001, is in good standing with the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA). 

  • We are grateful to all our donors who support us from around the globe. To better understand the opportunity to unlock a tax benefit receipt in your country of residence, please contact donate@irsss.ca. 

  • Online donations automatically receive an electronic receipt. IRSSS issues tax receipts for donations of $20 CAD or more. Monthly donors will receive a single receipt for their total annual contributions at the beginning of the following year. 

  • Unfortunately, not. The donation receipts, as per CRA ruling, will be made to the name of: 

    • The name individual whose credit card making the donation, 

    • Donations made by cheque will be issued a tax receipt in the name of the individual named on the cheque. 

    Organizations will receive an acknowledgment receipt in the name of the organization.  

  • Please make your cheque payable to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society, with your mailing address and contact information included on your cheque/correspondence and send it to: 

    Indian Residential School Survivors Society 
    402 - 100 Park Royal South 
    West Vancouver BC. V7T 1A2 

  • We accept donations by mail, online, through authorized partners, and at IRSSS events. To verify an event’s authorization, visit our events page or email donate@irsss.ca.

  • If you've signed into your IRSSS giving account, you can update it anytime via your Blackbaud Donor Portal. Need help? Email us at donate@irsss.ca. 

  • Every donation is deeply appreciated, as our services are free for Survivors. Funds support the greatest needs, as directed by our leadership.

  • We appreciate community support! Organizations and groups wishing to fundraise for IRSSS must submit an application via our website before hosting an event. Only approved events listed on our website are authorized to use our name and logo.

    • Interested in raising funds for IRSSS? Learn more.  

  • Please feel welcome to connect with us by email at, donate@irsss.ca, should you be unclear about how to donate or have any concerns about donating to IRSSS. 

  • You can access your existing IRSSS donor profile anytime via the Blackbaud Donor Portal. Need help? Email us at donate@irsss.ca. 

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Service FAQs

  • IRSSS offers emotional, cultural, and crisis support at no cost to Survivors, Intergenerational Survivors, and First Nations communities across BC. Services are available in person, by phone, or online. We also provide workshops and presentations upon request. Our 24/7 Lamathut Crisis Line is available at 1-800-721-0066. 

  • IRSSS supports those impacted by Indian Residential Schools, Indian Day Schools, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR), the Sixties Scoop, Indian Boarding Homes, Indian Hospitals, Indian Day Scholars, and related experiences, including Intergenerational Survivors. We also assist those affected by First Nations Child and Family Services and Jordan’s Principle settlements. Services are available to First Nations families and community members in BC.

  • To request support, submit a service request form. Our scheduling team will connect you with available support workers for short-term emotional and cultural support.

    We also provide referrals to IRSSS counsellors and FNHA Mental Health Providers.

  • Please allow at least two weeks for processing. Our team will contact you by email after receiving your request. If you haven’t heard back, you can resubmit the form or follow up at Reception@irsss.ca. September is a high-demand period, and if support is at capacity, we’ll work with you to find alternative dates. 

  • IRSSS provides emotional and cultural support but cannot offer financial aid. We do not fund travel, housing, food security, or program attendance. 

  • IRSSS does not process class action claims or provide legal support. While we can offer emotional support as you review documents, we cannot complete or submit claims on your behalf. We can refer you to claims administrators, class counsel, or legal resources. 

  • No, IRSSS is an independent non-profit founded by Indian Residential School Survivors. We are not affiliated with the federal or provincial government, political parties, or ministries. Funding details can be found on our Financials page. We do not handle political requests, endorsements, or statements. 

  • IRSSS cannot provide personal or school records. For records, please contact the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation or the UBC Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre. 

Support Services

Indian Residential Schools FAQs

  • Indian Residential Schools were government-funded, church-run institutions designed to forcibly assimilate Indigenous children by separating them from their families, languages, and cultures. Many children experienced abuse, neglect, and malnutrition in these schools.

  • More than 150,000 First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children were taken from their families and placed in Indian Residential Schools across Canada. Thousands never returned home, and the search for unmarked graves is ongoing.

  • Intergenerational trauma refers to the lasting impact of residential schools on Survivors’ descendants. The trauma experienced in these institutions has contributed to ongoing challenges in Indigenous communities, including mental health struggles, substance use, and loss of cultural identity.

  • The last federally operated Indian Residential School in Canada, Kivalliq Hall in Nunavut, closed in 1997. In British Columbia, the last school, St. Michael’s Residential School, closed in 1984.

  • Indian Day Schools were similar to residential schools but allowed students to return home at night. These schools still aimed to assimilate Indigenous children and were sites of cultural suppression and widespread abuse.

  • The Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS) provides culturally sensitive crisis support, counselling, and resources for Survivors and their families. IRSSS works to promote healing, raise awareness, and support Indigenous communities in reclaiming their cultures.

About Indian Residential Schools

LAMATHUT CRISIS LINE 24/7 SUPPORT: 1 (800) 721-0066