Shubenacadie IRS Commemoration Project is seeking guidance from Survivors and Descendants

The IRS Commemoration Project is continuing its work with Survivors and Descendants of the Shubenacadie Indian Residential School. In this second part of Phase One, the Project is looking to continue its efforts to engage with Survivors and Descendants from February to March 2021.

Project Coordinator Dorene Bernard has been working with Survivors and descendants since 2018 when Phase One began. There has been a lot of progress made on the Project due to the input from Survivors and Descendants and the work of the Tripartite Forum Culture and Heritage Committee, Parks Canada and the Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre. The goal for the next part of Phase One is to reconnect with Survivors and Descendants to gain additional input and guidance and to provide an update on the progress made so far.

This input will help further develop the plans for the final phase of the Project – Phase Three: Implementation of the Shubenacadie IRS Commemoration. As part of this process, Dorene will be hosting seven virtual Zoom sessions to better engage with Survivors and Descendants. Sessions are open to any survivor or descendant of the IRS in Shubenacadie. There is also the opportunity to offer input and guidance if you cannot participate in one of the seven planned sessions.

A survey with targeted questions has been created and is available to complete online, or if access to the internet is an issue, a physical copy can be mailed to individuals. The survey is a vital part of this process and will provide participants with updates from past engagement sessions on the progress of the TRC Calls to Action on Commemoration. The answers provided will offer important insight towards the final design, phrasing and plans for the monument and for the implementation of the Commemoration event that will take place later this year.

For more information, visit the Shubenacadie IRS Commemoration Project on Facebook (@IRSCommemoration), or contact Dorene Bernard at dbernard@cmmns.com or Sheila Pierro-Tremblay at sheila@cmmns.com.

If you are a Survivor or Descendant of the IRS in Shubenacadie and want to take part in the online survey, click here.

Your completed survey will be used only for the work of the IRS Commemoration Project.