Federal Indian Day Schools Health and Cultural Support Program
Cultural and emotional support services and mental health counselling for Federal Indian Day School Survivors, their families and intergenerational Survivors.
Content warning!
This page discusses topics that may be distressing and awaken traumatic experiences.
The Hope for Wellness Helpline provides immediate, toll-free telephone and online-chat based support and crisis intervention to all Indigenous people in Canada. This service is available 24/7 in English and French, and upon request in Cree, Ojibway, and Inuktitut. Experienced and culturally competent counsellors are available by phone at 1-855-242-3310 or by online chat at hopeforwellness.ca.
On this page
About the program
The Federal Indian Day Schools (IDS) Health and Cultural Support Program was implemented in 2020 in direct response to the Federal Indian Day Schools (McLean) Settlement Agreement. Survivors of Federal Indian Day Schools and their family members are able to access community-based cultural and emotional supports, as well as mental health counselling services. Assistance with transportation may be offered when mental health counselling and cultural support services are not locally available.
Program eligibility
Support services are available to Survivors of Federal Indian Day Schools, their families and Intergenerational Survivors regardless of Indigenous status or place of residence within Canada.
Family members include:
- spouse or partner
- parents, guardians or caretakers
- children raised by, or raised in the household of, an Federal Indian Day School Survivor
- any relations who have experienced effects of intergenerational trauma associated with an eligible family member's time at an Federal Indian Day School
- any relative who has been impacted by Federal Indian Day Schools
Even if you are not eligible for this program, you may be eligible for other support service programs under the Trauma-Informed Health and Cultural Support Program.
Services available
Mental health counselling
Mental health counselling is provided by professionals such as psychologists and social workers who are in good standing with their provincial or territorial regulatory body and enrolled with Indigenous Services Canada. Mental health counsellors will work with their clients to develop a wellness plan and provide individual or family counselling to support healing as determined with the client.
Eligibility for mental health counselling in British Columbia may be different from the rest of Canada. For any questions about eligibility in that province, please contact the BC First Nations Health Authority’s First Nations Health Benefits and Services.
For service providers: Forms related to mental health counselling are available on the ISC Forms webpage.
Emotional support
Community-based Indigenous health workers are hired by Indigenous organizations to provide trauma-informed, culturally grounded support to people affected by unresolved trauma associated with attending Federal Indian Day Schools. They provide emotional support and comfort by listening, talking and providing referrals to other services.
Cultural supports
Elders and Traditional Healers provide cultural supports through local Indigenous organizations to assist clients on their healing journeys. Specific services are determined by the needs of the individuals and may include dialogue, ceremonies, prayers, Elder services or traditional healing.
Transportation
Wherever possible, assistance with transportation is offered when professional counselling and cultural support services are not locally available. Assistance with transportation costs to see Elders and traditional healers away from home is also available.
Accessing services
Please contact the Indigenous Services Canada regional office in your province or territory to access services through the Federal Indian Day Schools Health and Cultural Support Program.
If you are in British Columbia, contact the First Nations Health Authority.
Other support service programs
Other trauma-informed health support services are available. You may be eligible for support services under the following programs:
- Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program
- Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Health and Cultural Support Program
- Expanded Trauma-Informed Health and Cultural Support Program
- First Nations Child and Family Services, and Jordan's Principle Settlement Agreement Support Services
- Federal Indian Hospitals Settlement Agreement Support Services
Pamphlet: Encountering strong emotional reactions
Thinking about how Federal Indian Day Schools affected you can lead to negative or upsetting thoughts or memories.
The pamphlet Encountering strong emotional reactions is designed to help you recognize the reactions you may have.