Office of Indigenous Engagement holds online Sharing Circle June 3 at 6 p.m.

In response to the devastating news of 215 children buried at the Kamloops residential school, the Office of Indigenous Engagement has organized a Sharing Circle for Thursday night, June 3, at 6 p.m.

Selected participants will share their thoughts and reflections of this news, speaking from their personal perspectives on how to move forward from this heartbreaking news. Participants on the call are invited to be present for the sharing, using the wisdom and thoughts from those presenting to support themselves in their own journey. It is a chance to come together in acknowledgement of the children, families, and communities distressed by the findings.

“An event like this has many of us hurting, and it is important to come together as a university community to find a way to walk forward, together,” says Dr. Michael Hart, vice-provost, Indigenous engagement. “We are organizing this event so that we have a chance to share our grief and find strength in our collective commitment to end racism and walk toward reconciliation.”

The event is open to all faculty, staff and students.

• Date: Thursday, June 3
• Time: 6 p.m. to approximately 7:30 p.m., but no definitive ending time
• Zoom link

Participants include:

• Dr. Ed McCauley, president
• Reg Crowshoe, Elder in Residence
• Santanna Hernandez, co-chair ii’taa’poh’to’p Student Advisory Group
• Susan Mide Kiss, senior director, strategic initiatives in community engagement
• Jennifer Leason, assistant professor, Tier II CRC 
• Assad Ali Bik, vice-president student life, Students’ Union
• Natasha Kenny, senior director, Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning
• Doreen Bergum, Elder, Circle of Advisors
• Bill Rosehart, dean, Schulich School of Engineering

During Sharing Circles, invited guests speak from the heart without interruption. Participants listen respectfully without verbally contributing.

These events are difficult to process and understand. Resources are available.

During event

• Amanda Habiak, mental health consultant, available by email amanda.habiak@ucalgary.ca
• Michele  Moon, team lead, WellBeing and WorkLife, available by email michele.moon@ucalgary.ca

Student Wellness Services

• Paige Thomas, available by email pmthomas@ucalgary.ca
• Julie Stewart, available by email stewajl@ucalgary.ca
• After hours: 403-210-9355. If you call after hours, you have the option to speak with a crisis counsellor from the Wood’s Homes Community Resource Team, or a highly trained volunteer at the Distress Centre (available in more than 200 languages)

Before/after event

Staff, faculty and postdoctoral scholar support

• Staff Wellness 
• Homewood Health (short-term counselling, 24/7 crisis support) 1-800-663-1142 

Student Wellness Services

• 403-210-9355 including after-hours option to connect with Distress Centre or Wood’s Homes Community Support Team

• Online appointment booking, peer support, groups and self-help resources  
• Paige Thomas, Indigenous student support adviser pmthomas@ucalgary.ca

Student support

• Student Wellness Services online or call 403-210-9355

24/7 support

Indian Residential School Survivors 24-Hr Crisis Line

• 1-866-925-4419 or www.irsss.ca/faqs 

Hope for Wellness Crisis Intervention

• 1-855-242-3310 or hopeforwellness.ca for online chat

Distress Centre

• 24/7 crisis line 1 (403) 266-4357, or online chat from 3 to 10 p.m. weekdays, noon to 10 p.m. weekends