In 2022, the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) began a project to research and document the residential school experiences of our Squamish People at St. Paul’s Indian Residential School.
The project followed in the wake of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation announcing the discovery of the remains of children in unmarked graves at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School – once the largest residential school in Canada.
Yúusnew̓as, meaning “Taking care of each other”, is the name of the Squamish-led project. The name comes from Elders, proposed in recognition that we must take care of residential school survivors as well as those who have been impacted by intergenerational harm.
Today, the Yúusnew̓as Family doing the work of caring for each other is made up of many people from across the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw and its supportive partners. Squamish Person and and Territory & Culture Services Executive Director, Peter Baker, is the Yúusnew̓as project sponsor. There’s also a steering committee, a health and wellness team, cultural and archival experts, as well as a team of archaeologists.
On Saturday September 13th, the Yúusnew̓as family will be holding a community event to share an update on the work that has been done to date.
The event, called Ta syétsem tl’a Sḵwx̱wu7meshúlh síiyúxwa cht (Real Stories of our Squamish Elders), will be held at the Chief Joe Mathias Centre from 12pm-5pm.
The work of our Yúusnew̓as Family is detailed below:
Archival Research
Since the project began, the Yúusnew̓as archiving team has been analyzing records about the student experiences at St. Paul’s Indian Residential School. These records were gathered from public sources, including the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre at the University of British Columbia, the Royal BC Museum in Victoria, Catholic Church archives, the Museum of North Vancouver, and private collections.
These archives include school admission and discharge records, medical exams, family information, quarterly reports, and school performance records. The information gathered is being entered into a secure database administered by the Yúusnew̓as Project.
Recording Syets (Truths) from Survivors
Squamish People, trained as Community Liaison Leads are recording the Syets (truths). Most video interviews are conducted in-person at a location of the Survivor’s choosing, most often in their home. To date, 16 of these Syets sessions with Survivors have been conducted.
Everyone who participated in sharing their Syets was supported by ongoing health and wellness services and follow-up visits. A transcript and recording of their Syets is given to Survivors.
Ground Investigation, Archaeology
The Yúusnew̓as team has employed four archaeologists since the project began in 2022, as well as a professional forensics expert. To date, these experts have employed several technologies, including LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging, a technology used to map the earth’s surface), ground penetrating radar, electrical resistivity, and soil sampling, at the site of the former St. Paul’s Indian Residential School, the former Day School, and at Eslha7an (Mission) Cemetery in North Vancouver.
Health and Wellness
A Health and Wellness Team was formed at the onset of Yúusnew̓as, as caring for each other is at the heart of the project. The Health and Wellness team introduced a range of wellness supports for Squamish People, including a Wellness Guide and Wellness Wednesdays. Wellness Wednesdays is a free event open to all Squamish People held in both the Squamish Valley and North Vancouver. The bi-weekly event offers drop-in healing with cedar and eagle feather brushing as well as shaker candle blessings. One-on-one counselling services are also available through the Yúusnew̓as Team.
Together, the Yúusnew̓as family built a yurt (a round, tent-like structure with a wooden lattice frame and a canvas covering) which now sits near the Elders Centre and the Shaker Church in X̱wemelch’stn (Capilano reserve) and serves as a dedicated space for healing. It is heated and insulated and can be used all year long.
Listed below are members of the Yúusnew̓as Family:
Steering Committee Members
- Peter Baker, Project Sponsor, Territory and Culture
- Joy Joseph-Mccullough, Squamish Valley Operations
- Kelley McReynolds, People Services
- Sempulyan Gonzales, Council Member and Elder
- Bianca Cameron, Band Manager
- Michael Ford, Communication & Engagement
- Marie Natrall, Member Services
Project Administration
- Ashley Whitworth, Project Director
- Aaron Bruce, Legal Services
- James Bradshaw, Project Manager
- Harris Beeman, Executive Assistant
- Cultural Leads and Community Liaisons
- Adina Williams
- Leslhá7lhamaat Elizabeth Ross
Project Specialists
- Nick Weber – Lead Archaeologist
- Yumks Dr. Rudy Reimer, Archaeologist
- Andrew Latimer, Archaeologist
- Josh Murphy, Archaeologist
- Dr. Ryan Lehto, Forensics
- Dr. Sean Carlton, University of Manitoba
- Lillian Shams-Amiri, Land-based support
- Hannah Ruston – Lead Wellness
- Mackenzie Gomez – Lead Health
- Justin Malialis – Project & Event Specialist
- Reeva Billy, Community Support
- Natasha Amos, Community Support
- Roan Reimer – Truth-Teller Specialist
- Jackson Campbell – Lead Researcher
- Damon Hawkes – Researcher, transcriber
- Ashley Noyes – Archivist
- Jordan Dawson – Researcher
- Arthur Macapagal, External Relations
- Samantha Falk, Communications
- David Malysheff, Videographer
- Jessica Blois – Health Support
- Alroy Baker – Uncle Bucky, community support
- Judy & Jane – Wellness Wednesdays
- Aggie & Slomish – Wellness Wednesdays
- Willie Nahanee, Community Support
- Laura Moberg, Archive Researcher
- Carmanah Olbrich, Archive Researcher
- Jack Saben, Archive Researcher
For support, please reach out
We recognize conversations and reflections about residential schools can be deeply painful and triggering, especially for our survivors and their families. If you or someone you know is experiencing distress, please know support is available. We are here to walk alongside you.
Ayás Mén̓men (Child & Family Services) and Yúustway (Health & Wellness) are available, including traditional land-based practices and cultural supports.
Mackenzie Gomez – Yúusnew̓as Health Lead
Phone: 604-360-3911 or 604-982-0332
Email: Mackenzie_Gomez@squamish.net
Hannah Rushton – Yúusnew̓as Wellness Lead
Phone: 778-233-4869 or 604-985-4111
Email: Hannah_Rushton@squamish.net
Indian Residential School Survivors Society:
1-800-721-0066
KUU-US Crisis Line Society: 1-800-588-8717
National Indian Residential School Crisis Line:
1-866-925-4419
wa chexw yuusténam̓ut.
Take care of yourself.