Indian Residential School (IRS) Program

Oki! Siksika Health Services’ Indian Residential School Support Program provides support to former IRS students and their family members.

To contact Siksika Health Services’ IRS Program, call 403-734-5687.

Hours of operation are 8:30am-4:30pm, Monday-Friday.

Photo courtesy of Leah Hennel/AHS

Call
Like many First Nations across Canada, Siksika Nation was significantly impacted by colonization, including policies, religion, institutions, legislation, intergenerational trauma, Indian Residential Schools, the 60s Scoop, and over-representation of children in care.
Health assistance may be accessed for:

This history has resulted in widespread risk factors for compromised health and wellbeing. As part of Siksika Health Services’ comprehensive response, the IRS Program provides support to former IRS students and their family members. Activities include:

Every person on Siksika is a trauma survivor, whether they have experienced the effects of residential school directly or indirectly.

  • Providing emotional and cultural support to former IRS students and family members, including assisting with 60’s Scoop and Day School class action lawsuit
  • Partnering with Siksika Nation to provide support during radar detection of unmarked graves near residential school sites on-reserve
  • Traditional ceremonies
  • Cultural sensitivity training for staff from Siksika Nation and surrounding communities
  • Assisting other program areas with cultural sensitivity and culturally-based program development/implementation

 

Phone Resources:
Siksika Health Mental Health Support 403-734-5660 (9am-5pm, Monday-Friday)
Siksika Health Crisis Line403-734-2596 (24 hrs/day, 7 days/week)
Siksika Emergency Medical Services403-734-9111 (24 hrs/day, 7 days/week)
Indian residential school survivor’s society1-800-721-0066 or 1-866-925-4419
AHS Mental Health Help line1-877-303-2642 (24 hrs/day, 7 days/week)
The Hope for Wellness Help line1-855-242-3310 (24 hrs/day, 7 days/week)
Kids Help Crisis Line1-800-668-6868 (24 hrs/day, 7 days/week)
Canada Suicide Prevention Services1-833-456-4566 (24 hrs/day, 7 days/week)
Text Resources:
Text4Hope (Mental health support)Text COVID19HOPE to 393939
Text4Hope (Addiction Support)Text Open2change to 393939
Text4Hope (Cancer Support)Text CancerCare to 393939
Online Resources:
Wellness Together Canadahttps://ca.portal.gs/ 
Anxiety Canada https://www.anxietycanada.com/
Centre for Addiction & Mental Health (CAMH): http://www.camh.ca/covid19 
Daily Tips for Parents:https://childmind.org/
Positive Psychology Kit:https://positivepsychology.com/the-crisis-kit/
310 COPE:https://www.yssn.ca/310-COPE 
Mind Your Mind Online Support:https://mindyourmind.ca/ 
Centre for Clinical Interventions (incl. online workbooks for a variety of mental health concerns)https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/ (workbooks can be found here: https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking-After-Yourself)
Anxiety and Depression Association of Americahttps://adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blogposts/consumer/covid-19-lockdown-guide-how-manage-anxiety-and
Siksika Health Services – Mental Health Facebook page@SHSMentalHealth
Apps:
– Headspace
– What’s Up
– Calm
– Mindshift
– Breathr