FOR MEDIA AND PRESS

Sharing Our Story.

IRSSS is committed to raising awareness and providing accurate information about our work supporting Survivors, families, and communities. Journalists and media professionals are invited to connect with us for interviews, statements, and resources.

Interested in requesting an interview? Please fill out our media inquiry form.

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IRSSS BOILERPLATE

Indian Residential School Survivor Society.

The Indian Residential School Survivor Society (IRSSS) is a non-profit organization and registered Canadian charity dedicated to supporting Indian Residential School Survivors and their families on their healing journey. Established in 1994, IRSSS provides a range of culturally sensitive services, including counseling, advocacy, and community outreach, to address the lasting impacts of intergenerational trauma. As we continue our vital work, we rely on the generosity of donors like you to help us expand our services and reach more individuals in need. Your support can make a real difference in the lives of survivors and their families.

SUPPORTING ACCURATE, RESPECTFUL AND SURVIVOR-CENTRED STORYTELLING

IRSSS Media Story Starters & Framing Guide.

As an Indigenous-led organization, IRSSS is committed to ensuring that media coverage reflects the lived realities, dignity, and strength of Survivors and their families. The following story starters are intended to support journalists in framing coverage with care, accuracy, and impact.

    • For many Survivors, the impacts of residential schools are ongoing and continue to shape daily life.

    • Each call to the IRSSS crisis line represents a real person seeking support, understanding, and connection.

    • Survivors are not defined solely by trauma; their stories also reflect resilience, strength, and leadership.

    • The legacy of residential schools is not just historical; it continues to affect individuals, families, and communities today.

    • Intergenerational impacts are a lived reality for many Indigenous people across Canada.

    • The need for support services remains urgent and ongoing.

    • Survivor voices are essential to truth-telling and must be centred in public conversations.

    • Awareness and education about residential schools remain uneven, making accurate reporting critical.

    • Responsible storytelling helps counter misinformation and denialism.

    * Please note IRSSS is a non-activist/political organization.

    • IRSSS’s Lamathut 24/7 crisis line provides immediate, culturally grounded support for Survivors, families and victims of gender-based violence.

    • Access to culturally safe, trauma-informed care can be life-changing and, in some cases, lifesaving.

    • Barriers to care still exist, particularly in remote and underserved communities.

    • Healing journeys are unique and often rooted in culture, language, and community connection.

    • Indigenous-led services play a vital role in creating safe and effective pathways to healing.

    • Cultural continuity is a key part of rebuilding identity, connection, and well-being.

    • Demand for Survivor support continues to grow, alongside the need for sustainable resources.

    • Long-term, stable funding is essential to ensure consistent and accessible care.

    • Meaningful reconciliation includes sustained investment in Indigenous-led organizations and services.

    • Reconciliation is an ongoing responsibility that includes listening, learning, and taking action.

    • Public awareness can support impacted communities when it is grounded in respect and understanding.

    • Supporting IRSSS contributes directly to Survivor care and healing initiatives.

  • To support respectful and impactful coverage, IRSSS encourages media to:

    • Use present-day framing rather than positioning residential schools solely as historical events

    • Avoid language that sensationalizes trauma or reduces Survivors to their experiences

    • Centre Indigenous voices, perspectives, and expertise

    • Recognize strength, resilience, and leadership alongside harm

    • Include support resources when covering potentially triggering topics

IRSSS INTERVIEW REQUESTS

Media Inquiry Form

Thank you for your interest in speaking with us. To help us review and respond to media requests in a timely and thoughtful way, we ask that all interview inquiries be submitted through the form below. The information you provide will support our internal assessment of availability, alignment, and format.

Please note that submitting this form does not guarantee an interview. Due to capacity considerations and the sensitive nature of our work, IRSSS may recommend a written statement or decline requests that are not aligned with our mandate or timelines. We appreciate your understanding and your commitment to responsible reporting on issues affecting residential school Survivors and their families.

INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SURVIVORS SOCIETY

Leadership Profiles.

INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SURVIVORS SOCIETY

Media & Press Releases.

WHO WE ARE

Healing Through Support & Advocacy.

The Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS) is a non-profit organization and registered Canadian charity dedicated to helping Survivors and their families heal from the lasting impacts of Residential Schools. Since 1994, we have provided culturally sensitive support, including counseling, advocacy, and community outreach.

Learn More

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