Residential School Survivors Look to Create Support Network

By Kerry Benjoe, Leader-Post
The Leader-Post
November 6, 2012

http://www.leaderpost.com/Residential+school+survivors+look+create+support+network/7503305/story.html

Indian residential school survivors are getting some assistance from the Canadian Centre for Abuse Awareness (CCAA).

The national organization is planning events for survivors who are in the process of resolving their claims through the Independent Assessment Process (IAP).

"We applied for and received funding from the Indian Residential School Adjudication Secretariat to assist survivors of abuse from residential schools with being prepared to go into their adjudication for their compensation," said Sanderson Layng, CCAA president and COO.

"Most people, who are applying for compensation, have already done that but now there is a waiting time between when their application is heard and when they meet with an adjudicator. Our project (Group IAP program) is working with survivors, as a group, and looking at how the group can be supportive of one another and create support mechanisms."

The CCAA is currently working with 15 survivors and another 85 are on the waiting list.

Layng plans to begin working to create a support network by bringing the first 15 survivors together.

"The first thing we are doing is holding a workshop," he said. "It will likely be at the end of November and it's a day and a half workshop. In the workshop we discuss all kinds of issues about abuse, what transpired in residential schools, how it impacts people and also looks at what the healing journey is like to recover from that kind of experience and trauma."

Layng hopes the workshop will help survivors learn how to develop their own "communication circle" with friends, family and one another.

"One of the most important parts, I think, is looking at creating a legacy for how people can feel like they are contributing to the future," said Layng. "That is that part of the project that we think will have one of the best components of the healing process. Survivors will not only be focusing on their own issues but looking at how they can help others, not only within their own communities, but potentially across the country."

The CCAA has been working with victims of abuse for the past two decades and those from the organization know how difficult a process it can be, said Layng.

In addition to helping bring abuse survivors together, the centre provides 11 months of follow-up care so that survivors will continue to have a support system in place once they have begun the process of talking about their abuse.

Layng said the CCAA is the only non-aboriginal organization to have received federal funding to deliver such program for residential school survivors.

The purpose is not only prepare people for their adjudication but to assist them on their healing journey, he said. The organization got involved at the urging of Tony Stevenson, who is the Saskatchewan contact for the CAA's Group IAP program.

He has been working with survivors for several years and knew the services the CCAA could provide would benefit survivors.

Stevenson came up with the idea for the project because he believes people are stronger in numbers.

As a residential school survivor, he knows how difficult a process it can be on a person to talk about the abuses suffered.

"Basically, we're trying to put a positive spin on something negative," said Stevenson. Residential school survivors interested in becoming part of the group can contact Stevenson at to-nystevenson@accesscomm. ca or at 541-8669.

Contact: kbenjoe@leaderpost.com