(Ottawa, ON) – April 17, 2025 – On this week’s episode of Roots and Hoots, we are pleased to be joined by Elder Thomas Louttit. Elder Thomas is a respected leader in his community, living a life in service to others. Originally from Moose Factory, he shares stories about his early days of living off the land, experiences in the Residential School System and the foster care system, to life today, including his role as a keeper of the Miitig Healing Lodge and the ways he continues to live a traditional and cultural lifestyle.

Elder Thomas is a man whose presence matches his tall stature. He is a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Originally from Moose Factory, located at the southern end of James Bay, he describes his early life on the land in his traditional territory. At the age of five, Elder Thomas was sent to Residential School – a far distance from home. He notes how the Federal Government’s decision to send the children from Moose Factory to a Residential School so far away when there was one much closer to home, needlessly contributed more pain to his community.

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He recalls and shares the story of being apprehended and placed in the foster care system while awaiting to return home from Residential School; he was placed in foster care for three years. In spite of being torn from his family, his land and traditional way of life, Elder Thomas has managed to keep his language and is an incredible leader demonstrating wisdom, integrity and humility. Elder Thomas is a firekeeper, teacher, pipe-carrier, mentor, Knowledge Keeper for the Wabano’s men circle in Ottawa, National Elder for the CUPE Union, keeper of the Miitig Healing Lodge and in 2016, he was awarded the Doctor of Laws honorary degree from Carleton University for his leadership and service to community. With all of these accomplishments and examples of his role as ‘helper to the people’, it is clear that what he cherishes most is time spent with family.

The LHF is a national, Indigenous-led, charitable organization that has been working to promote healing and Reconciliation in Canada for over 25 years. The LHF’s goal is to educate Canadians about the history and existing intergenerational impacts of the Residential and Day School Systems and subsequent Child Welfare System on Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) Survivors, their descendants, and their communities to address discrimination against Indigenous Peoples, and to promote hope and healing in Canada. The LHF works to encourage Canadians to address discrimination and injustice to contribute to the equity, dignity, and respectful treatment of all.

The LHF has more than 30 educational exhibitions that educate Canadians about Indigenous history and that are free to borrow. LHF also has curriculums for K -12 and for adults, along with Activity Guides, Workshops and Training, and two Podcast series, all aimed at educating Canadians about Indigenous history and the shared history of Residential and Day Schools, the Child Welfare System, and other colonial acts of oppression. The LHF works to develop empathy and understanding to eliminate ongoing racism against Indigenous Peoples and to foster Reconciliation in Canada.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Teresa Edwards, B.A., LL.B / J.D.
Executive Director and In-House Legal Counsel
Legacy of Hope Foundation
tedwards@legacyofhope.ca