From survivors to ‘thrivers’: Former residential school students connect with culture and each other – CBC

‘You can overcome anything so long as you work hard within yourself’

Sep 30, 2019

For one group of former residential school students in Winnipeg, returning to their culture and teachings has them identifying themselves in a new way.

Eva Wilson-Fontaine, who runs a program for former residential school students called Intergenerational Knowledge, said since they began meeting five years ago she has witnessed the group’s progress.

“Last year they said ‘We don’t want to be known as survivors anymore. We’re thrivers.’ And I thought, how amazing is that?,” said Wilson-Fontaine.

“They totally are thrivers. They’re supportive of one another.”

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/residential-school-survivors-thrivers-1.5296107