The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and First Peoples Wellness Circle (FPWC) hosted the National Wellness Gathering for Indian Residential School (IRS) Survivors and IRS Resolution Health Support (IRS RHSP) Workforce on February 13-15, 2024, at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre on the unceded territory of xʷməθkʷəyəm (Musqueam), Sḵwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

The National Wellness Gathering for Indian Residential School Survivors was an informative and inspirational event to celebrate, acknowledge and uphold First Nations IRS survivors and their families, as well as members of the IRS RHSP workforce. The event objectives were to:

 •  Provide a space for Indian Residential School (IRS) Survivors and their families to reconnect, share, learn, and heal.

 •  Support the IRS Resolution Health Support Program (RHSP) workforce through wellness activities, cultural connections, and self-care opportunities.

 •  Generate insights, support, and direction in determining a path to permanency for the IRS RHSP program past the current mandate ending in April of 2024. This includes imagining what the future looks like for the program from the perspectives of First Nations Leadership, mental wellness experts and service providers, Survivors, and Knowledge Carriers.

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