NationTalk: Thunder Bay, ON – The Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) is recognizing the importance of mental health supports, cultural reclamation and wellness for Indian Residential School Survivors (IRS) and their families.  ONWA is launching a 13-part Wellness video series from March 25th to April 5th with videos that focus on themes of healing from grief and loss, family and connection, restoring safety, healthy coping and ongoing mental health strategies.

Traditionally and today, Indigenous women hold leadership roles in their lives, families, communities, and Nations. As grandmothers, mothers, aunties, sisters, and friends, Indigenous women are trusted supports for younger generations passing on wisdom and knowledge about our traditional teachings. Due to colonization, Indigenous women are still being directly, or indirectly impacted by egregious experiences they had in residential schools. As residential school survivors, Indigenous women’s trust in mainstream systems impacts their ability to access support and other wellness-related services.

This video series will recognize the legacy of IRS and the impacts on Indigenous women and their families and provide opportunity for cultural reclamation and the celebration of the resiliency of IRS survivors and intergenerational survivors.

During this campaign viewers will have an opportunity to win one of 100 wellness bundles that correspond to the themes in each video.  The bundle includes hand drumming, rattle making, healing turtle and smudge kits as well as items like the Legend of the Four Winds dice game and mental health resources. To enter to win a wellness bundle, please visit ONWA’s social media platforms; one video for each of the 5 themes will be captioned with the details on how to enter, and 20 people per theme will win.

As the ONWA understands how the legacy of IRS impacts other mental health issues survivors currently face, the 13-Part Wellness Series is being presented as part of National Gambling Awareness Month. To learn more, please visit https://www.onwa.ca/indigenous-responsible-gambling.

If you or a family member needs support, the National Indian Residential School Crisis Line provides 24-hour crisis support to former Indian Residential School students and their families toll-free at 1-866-925-4419.

For more information and Media Inquiries:

Andre Morriseau, Communications Manager
Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA)
Email: amorriseau@onwa.ca