(Ottawa, ON) July 6, 2021 – On this week’s Roots & Hoots l’animateur de la FAE, Gordon Spence, est rejoint par l’aînée Irene Compton. L’aînée Irene est co-fondatrice de Minwaashin Lodge. Elle est Survivante de première génération des pensionnats in-diens. Au Lodge, Irene est la gardienne des histoires, qui relie les femmes autochtones à leur cul-ture, à leur identité et à la fierté qui en découle. L'aînée Irene et Gordon se sont assis pour parler de l'importance d'être fort spirituellement, d'être connecté à sa famille et de répondre aux besoins des peuples autochtones dans un centre urbain comme Ottawa.

Irene is Saulteaux, originally from the Keeseekoose First Nation in Saskatchewan. She now lives in the Algonquin Territory of Ottawa. Being a first-generation Survivor means that Irene’s mother went to Residential School from the ages of 6 until 16, exiting Residential School with an education equivalency of a grade 8 level, there were not many work opportunities for Survivors. For Irene’s mother, this meant being promised by the nuns of the Residential School to a 46-year-old Metis man in an arranged marriage. After years of living on the land with her small children near St. Lazare, Irene’s mother then travelled to Winnipeg where she met Irene’s father who had just been discharged from the Korean War. Her mother endured many hardships in her life, but she found strength as a Survivor and has strengthened herself spiritually as a Sun Dancer.

Calling on Creator, to help steer Irene on her professional path, she met Colleen Whiteduck, the co-founder of Minwaashin Lodge at a gym one morning. Together they shared in the belief and importance of an Indigenous women’s centre in Ottawa. To make the vision a reality, they decided to conduct a needs assessment of the community through a local program called the Community Wheel Project.Ce projet les a aidées à rédiger la proposition de ce qui allait devenir ce que nous connaissons maintenant sous le nom de Minwaashin Lodge. Dans les premiers jours de l'organisation, il y a eu de nombreuses périodes où l'argent était difficile à trouver, mais ils ont toujours réussi à garder les portes ouvertes.

Today, Minwaashin Lodge employs over 40 women and are the only Indigenous Women’s shelter in the city of Ottawa. Minwaashin Lodge has services and supports for every stage of life. Whether it is support for mothers, in with dealing with Children’s Aids, advocating for women, counselling for mothers and children, or food bank programs, every request they get, they honour.

As coordinator of the Culture Program and for her many years of service, this is what led Elder Irene to becoming the Keeper of Stories. The Keeper of Stories makes sure the Lodge is healthy spiritually, as well as culturally. For over 25 years, thousands of healing journeys have taken place at the Lodge. Irene carries with her the many stories she has witnessed over the years and is an integral archival instrument for the Lodge’s history. For more information about Minwaashin Lodge and the wonderful work they do please visit their website: www.minlodge.com/

Irene sees that in the wake of increased awareness and compassion of allies in Canada, it is important at the Lodge to share their culture, but also for those who are non-Indigenous to connect to their own culture, to walk in the world with that connection, and let it contextualize their lives in addition to sharing in Indigenous culture. Elder Irene says it is important for people to “soft moccasin” their way into community. Meaning that by proceeding humbly and listening well, little by little, this will help to improve relations and to actualize the shared vision of a better future for Indigenous Peoples and for all of Canada. To listen to this week’s episode visit https://bit.ly/rootsnhoots

The LHF has been in operation for more than 20-years as a national, Indigenous-led, charitable organization that has been working to promote healing and Reconciliation in Canada. The LHF’s goal is to educate and raise awareness about the history and existing intergenerational impacts of the Residential School System, Sixties Scoop, Day Schools and other colonial acts of oppression on Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, and Metis) Peoples.

La FAE dispose de 22 expositions qui peuvent être prêtées gratuitement. L’une de ces expositions, Fuir les pensionnats indiens : fuir pour sauver nos vies, is now available through an animated virtual video, along with the Survivors’ Oral Testimonies. The exhibition examines the experience of Survivors of the Residential School System and raises awareness on the impacts it has on our communities. For more information on the project, please visit: http://legacyofhope.ca/project/escapingrs/ La FAE travaille à la mise en ligne de ses autres expositions.

La Fondation possède également des programmes d'enseignement de la maternelle à la 12e année et pour les adultes, ainsi que des guides d'activités visant à sensibiliser les Canadiens à l'histoire autochtone et à l'histoire commune des pensionnats indiens, de la Rafle des années 60, des femmes et des filles autochtones disparues ou assassinées et des écoles de jour. La FAE travaille à développer l'empathie et la compréhension afin d'éliminer le racisme et de favoriser la Réconciliation au Cana-da.