Crees plan conference

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Western Cree Tribal Council, representing Duncan First Nation, Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation and Horse Lake First Nation, is hosting a four-day residential school conference in Edmonton in February. The theme will be "Breaking the Silence for the Seventh Generation." It is targeted at workers in social service, health and correctional fields, and other Native community workers. Gerald Auger and Garry Moostoos are organizers.

Workshops will address the survivors' perspective, spirituality, child welfare, cultural genocide, cycles of abuse, gender issues, the correctional system, colonialism, the invasion of treaty rights and more. Former Assembly of First Nations grand chief Phil Fontaine will be the keynote speaker and country music star Susan Aglukark is slated to perform.

Tribal Council Vice-Chief Jerry Goodswimmer, who has a degree in social work and is also a residential school survivor, says what will set their conference apart is the approach from a cultural perspective rather than a profit-making one. "The cultural perspective has to be recognized," he said, adding that some agencies that deal with the intergenerational effects of residential school abuse don't do that.

In Goodswimmer's view, "The Aboriginal Healing Foundation is just another institution imposed on First Nations people."

The Western Cree Tribal Council is putting on the conference without the financial backing of governments or foundations.

"Everybody is welcome," Goodswimmer said.

For more information, contact Gerald Auger or Garry Moostoos at 780-484-1465.