National Gathering on Unmarked Burials: Addressing Trauma in the Search and Recovery of Missing Children

Agenda at a Glance

November 28-30, 2022
RBC Convention Centre
Winnipeg, MB

Monday, November 28, 2022

Registration for statement gathering will be in the NCTR Archives Room (Executive Conference Centre) and will open at 12:00PM until the dinner on Monday, and then for Nov 29 and 30 it will open at 8:00AM and close at 5:00PM. 

Lunch and Dinner Provided at Conference Venue

7:00 am

• Lighting of Sacred Fire

12:00 pm

• Registration Opens
• “Grab and go” lunch provided

5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

• Opening and Sons of the Drum
• Empty Chair, Bentwood Box and Memorial Cloth Ceremonies
• Welcome Gathering & Dinner
• Welcome Remarks by Leadership
• Keynote Address by The Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair
• Artistic Performance – Rhonda Head, Mezzo-Soprano Vocalist
• Closing Prayer

Tuesday, November 29, 2022

Breakfast and Lunch Provided at Conference Venue

6:30 am

• Sunrise Ceremony: Pipe Ceremony and Water Ceremony

8:30 am – 5:00 pm

• Open with Hand Drum
• Voices of Survivors: Trauma Associated with the Search and Recovery of Missing Children
• Opening Comments by Kimberly Murray, Independent Special Interlocutor and Stephanie Scott, Executive Director, National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
• Keynote Address by: Dr. Cornelia (Nel) Wieman – “Practising Trauma-Informed Mental Health and Wellness”
• Participant Dialogue and Sharing
• Red River Métis Cultural Performance
• Voices of Community – “Ensuring Community Well-Being in the Search and Recovery of Missing Children”

Interactive and Facilitated Breakout Sessions

Interactive Breakout Sessions led by Office of the Independent Special Interlocutor

• Session 1- Recognizing the Different Types of Trauma
• Session 2 Responding to Trauma and Grief Through Arts and Commemoration

Interactive Breakout Sessions led by National Advisory Committee on Missing Children and    Unmarked Burials

• Session 3 – Panel Discussion – Trauma-Informed Communication
• Session 4 – Knowledge Sharing Circle: Good Practices and Lessons Learned in Caring for Survivors and Families Throughout the Search Process
• Session 5 – Knowledge Sharing Circle: Good Practices and Lessons Learned in Caring for our Communities throughout the Search process
• Session 6 – Knowledge Sharing Circle: Good Practices and Lessons Learned in Caring for the Frontline Workers who Lead and Carry out Searches

• Breakout Session Highlights
• Closing Prayer

Wednesday, November 30, 2022

Breakfast and Lunch Provided at Conference Venue

6:30am

• Pipe Ceremony and Water Ceremony in Meeting Plenary

8:30 am to 5:00 pm

• Open with Hand Drum
• Voices of Survivor Families – Youth “Health and Wellness Supports Needed for Youth in the Search and Recovery for Missing Children”
• Voices of Community – “Perpetuating Trauma and How to Address Trauma”
• Participant Dialogue and Sharing
• Inuit Cultural Sharing
• Indigenous Physicians Panel: “Health and Healing in the Search and Recovery for Missing Children”
• Participant Dialogue and Sharing

Interactive and Facilitated Breakout Sessions

Interactive Breakout Sessions led by Office of the Independent Special Interlocutor

• Session 1 – Understanding Ambiguous Loss
• Session 2 – Responding to Trauma and Grief: The Importance of Ceremonies
• Session 3 – Osborne Family Presentation: “Pimicikamak: Sharing a Journey of Healing”

Interactive Breakout Sessions led by National Advisory Committee on Missing Children and    Unmarked Burials

• Session 4 – Panel Discussion – How to Talk about the Search Process with our Children
• Session 5 – Knowledge Sharing Circle: Good Practices and Lessons Learned in Caring for Survivors and Families Throughout the Search Process
• Session 6 – Knowledge Sharing Circle: Good Practices and Lessons Learned in Caring for Our Communities Throughout the Search Process

Session 7 – Knowledge Sharing Circle: Good Practices and Lessons Learned in Caring for the Frontline Workers Who Lead and Carry Out Searches.

• Breakout Session Highlights
• Closing Remarks
• Closing Prayer and Travel Song