Lejac Residential School Site Search(Nadleh Whut’en Territory) As part of National Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebrations, the Fraser Lake Quilters Guild will be gifting thirty handmade quilts to honour residential school survivors at the Charlie Nooski Memorial Park. The initiative is the result of Terry Luggi, Indian Residential School Project Manager’s connection with Linda Nooski around the Nadleh Whut’en Whuz Noolh’en Project.
“I am intimately aware of the harms caused by the Lejac Indian Residential School” said Terry Luggi.“Honouring witnesses with gifts is a Dakelh way. Blankets are also an integral part of being Yinka Dene. Witnessess will be blanketed as part of acknowledging them and thanking them for sharing their truth. I am happy with the Quilters work to help us blanket survivors who share their stories and help keep our traditions flowing throughout this entire process,” she concluded.
The handcrafted quilts are a poignant step towards reconciliation between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous community of the area. The recognition and support for survivors illustrates a commitment to reconciliation and ongoing relationship building. The many harms carried out at the Lejac Indian Residential School against children from over 70 Nations are atrocious. Moving forward together starts recognizing the truth of these harms and uplifting one another.
“As a settler married into Nadleh Whut’en, I understood the need to show support,” said Linda Nooski. “My relationship with my husband, who is a residential school survivor, has opened my eyes to the harsh reality beyond what I was taught growing up. My heart hurts to know the truth about residential schools and the experiences of my family members. I already knew the quilters guild were supporting reconciliation and when I mentioned the project they were keen to be part of it.
The quilts will be used as part of the Nadleh’s Whuz Noolh’en interview process which involves audio or video documentation of the truth telling process with Lejac survivors. These accounts showcase the unwavering resilience of Indigenous people. Witness accounts are critical to the truth of what happened at the Lejac Indian Residential School.
“Our journey weighs heavily on our community but the meaningful contributions of the Fraser Lake Quilters Guild are helping us in our commitment to healing,” said Chief Bev Ketlo of Nadleh Whut’en. “The unwavering support from our local community is pivotal as we move towards meaningful reconciliation.”
Note: The Indian Residential Schools Survivor Society provides support for survivors and intergenerational survivors of residential schools. If you need support, please contact their 24-hour hotline at 1-800-721-0066.