Why is it important to support the grief and loss work happening on the Nation?
That is what Nation members are inviting Cochrane and surrounding area residents to discuss at the upcoming Abiding and Uplifting: Celebrating Right Relations event on June 4.
“We want to bring awareness to the issues facing indigenous people … and this is an opportunity to shine some light on what is happening in this country,” said Myrna Kootenay, grief counsellor and event organizer.
Open to all who want to attend, the day of celebration will be mixed with education including discussions about the post truth and reconciliation work, informing people about the grief and loss work on the Nation and will give organizers an opportunity to raise funds for the Grief and Loss Circles.
“The support group is very much needed in the (Stoney) community,” Kootenay explained.
“There is a lot of death (on the Nation) – it’s a significant amount of loss that we deal with, the mortality rate is pretty high.”
The Grief and Loss Circles were initiated in 2013 as a way to give support to Stoney residents in response to those affected by the southern Alberta flood and the high rate of death occurring on the Nation.
Nation members are invited to register and attended the weekly meeting over a six-week period where they can get support and learn different coping mechanisms
“We basically give the people a different outlook on grief and loss and how it presents opportunity,” Kootenay said.
One story of hope that an organizer shared – omitting specific details to protect the identity of the person – was when Elizabeth Short with the All Saints Anglican Church attended court dates with a Nation member who had been attending the support circles.
“They said they never had someone come to court with them and said it was encouraging,” Short said, adding she wrote a letter to the judge on behalf of the Nation member discussing the work he had been doing with the support group.
“It made a difference for him and the results of the outcome.”
Short has been involved with the healing circles for the last three years and said she is excited for the Sunday discussion.
“We wanted to bring some awareness to some of the work going on in Morley,” Short said.
“Another goal of this is reconciliation. We have to hear what has happened and acknowledge what happened … we have to find ways to move forward together, which really includes listening.”
The event is hosted in partnership with All Saints Anglican Church.
There is no admission for the event but donations will be greatly appreciated, organizers said. Tax receipts for donations of $10 or more will be available.
There will be supper served following the program. Potluck donations are not required but are welcomed.
The Celebrating Right Relations is taking place on June 4 at 3 p.m. at the All Saints Anglican Church, located at 404 Fourth Ave. N.
