Survivors and community members from across northern British Columbia gathered at the Prince George Civic Centre from June 27 to 28 for the first-ever Lejac Residential School Reunion.
Themed 'Celebrating Friendship,' the event is a community-led initiative to reconnect, share stories and heal in a safe and supportive space.
This event is hosted and organized by Takla Nation in collaboration with the Indian Residential School Survivors Society and made possible through funding from Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada.
"Unlike traditional memorials, the reunion is not focused on trauma, but instead on the strength, relationships and resilience of survivors. The mission of the event is clear: Walking together, honouring our strength and healing our spirit," said Takla Nation in a release on June 26 ahead of the event.
The event brings together 17 First Nations who were directly impacted by the Lejac Indian Residential School.
“This gathering is about healing and honouring each other — it’s not a memorial, it’s a celebration,” said Tamatha French, director of youth, family and community at Takla Nation.
“For many survivors, the friendships made at Lejac were what carried them through. We want to give space for those relationships to be honoured and nurtured again."
Tamatha French has led Takla Nation’s Residential School Healing Program for the past three years. Her tireless efforts to secure funding and foster collaboration among Nations have been instrumental in bringing this reunion to life, according to the release.
The reunion was supported by Elders, cultural wellness teams and volunteers who are helping to make this a safe and meaningful experience.
