09/29/2026
We are grateful to the Former Indian Residential School (IRS) Students, knowledge keepers, educators, scholars, and community members who contributed their time, lived experiences, knowledge, and guidance to the development of the IRS Education Program, funded by Future Generations Foundation.
Guiding Committee: Francis Whiskeyjack, Joe Cardinal, Joel Cardinal, Margaret Cardinal, Muriel Lee, Noella Steinhauer, Shirley Hunter, and Tom Snow.
With regrets: Leona Makokis, who is not pictured.
The Guiding Committee provided leadership, direction, and cultural guidance throughout the project, helping ensure that educational materials and learning resources were respectful, trauma-informed, culturally grounded, and rooted in truth. Through ongoing collaboration, the committee helped identify priorities, review content, offer recommendations, and support meaningful engagement with Survivors, families, and communities.
IRS Think Tank Participants: Alsena White, Judy Carson, Fred Cardinal, Dean Cardinal, Marvin Littlechild, Patricia Littlechild, Valerie Cardinal, Carl Quinn, Jessie Sylvester, Clarice Cardinal, Patsy Steinhauer, and Tom Lapatak.
With regrets: Bernie Makokis, Denise Steinhauer, and Lyndon Aginas, who are not pictured.
The IRS Think Tank participants brought together lived experience, personal reflections, teachings, research, historical knowledge, and educational expertise. Their collective contributions helped identify key themes, priorities, and resources to support meaningful education about the Indian Residential School system and its lasting impacts.
Together, their voices and guidance help ensure this work is respectful, accurate, culturally relevant, trauma-informed, and grounded in truth, healing, and community knowledge.
We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who has shared their knowledge, stories, and wisdom in support of education, healing, and reconciliation.
