Flying Dust Launches Healing Program for Survivors

Flying Dust Launches Healing Program for Survivors

Wednesday, August 25, 2004 at 13:12

 

 

A special blessing ceremony will be held tomorrow near Meadow Lake to commemorate the start-up of a new healing foundation for residential school survivors.

 

The Flying Dust Aboriginal Healing Foundation held its first workshop earlier this month and approximately 60 people attended.

 

Project coordinator Marcia Mirasty says she feels positive the foundation will be able to help band members in the Meadow Lake-area deal with the effects of residential schools.

 

Mirasty says several workshops and conferences will be held over the next two years dealing with topics that include conflict resolution, communication skills and traditional values.

 

She adds the foundation is respectful of different belief systems and that will be reflected in tomorrow’s ceremony.

 

Mirasty adds one major aspect of the foundation’s focus will be the “Returning to Spirit” program — an initiative already well-known to residents in English River, Ile-a-la-Crosse and Canoe Lake.

 

The program takes residents through a 5-day healing journey which is designed to encourage the participants to take a good look at themselves and where they need to go.

 

Mirasty says many of the people who were affected by residential schools are good and strong — they just need to re-learn skills that have been lost.