We are pleased to announce the recipient for the Read + Co’s annual Read + Seed program for 2024 is The Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS), a provincial organization that provides essential services to residential school survivors and families experiencing intergenerational trauma.
The IRSSS has been serving First Nations people in B.C. since 1994, just ten years after the last Indian Residential School closed in the province. Recently, the IRSSS has supported survivors and intergenerational survivors with triggering and distressing situations, including the uncovering of unmarked graves at Indian Residential Schools across the country, by providing emotional and cultural support as needed.
The ever-changing and growing team at the IRSSS also provides dedicated and specialized services to support people, families and communities affected by Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). In addition, the IRSSS supports intergenerational survivors (aged 12-18) who are in the criminal justice system who seek culture as well as support with building healthy relationships.
Their mission is to strive to provide physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual growth, development, and healing through culturally-based values and guiding principles for Survivors, Families, and Communities.