The next Outreach Opportunities Fund (OOF) recipient, starting July 1, is the Indigenous Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS). As we all know, the impact of residential schools on the First Nation population has been profound as shown by high rates of addiction, family breakdown, incarceration, unemployment and poor health. These are the systemic effects of racism and colonialism. The IRSSS was established to address this trauma by providing support to residential school survivors, their families and those dealing with intergenerational traumas. Assistance includes physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual growth support, as well as healing through culturally-based values and guiding principles. A first donation of $3,000 has already been sent from OOF to IRSSS to assist with the increased demand for their services resulting from the recent news about the unmarked graves of children at residential schools.

Learn more about the Outreach Opportunities Fund here.