Miles Morrisseau
ICT
The morning after Orange Shirt Day, the healing continued. At the Culture Camp, 10 miles outside of Misipawistik Cree Nation on the shores of Lake Winnipeg, the largest lake in western Canada, men gathered in pursuit of wellness.
Bobbi Sinclair, Opaskwayak Cree Nation, is the coordinator of the annual Men’s Wellness Camp, in its sixth year, as is the federal government’s recognition of September 30 as National Truth and Reconciliation Day, aimed at helping recovery from Canada’s residential boarding school system…
“People don’t realize that they’re impacted by residential school. Just because their parent didn’t go, they’re still impacted. And how we know that is because of the language,” Sinclair told ICT on the final day of camp.
“So, as us Ininiwak, if we don’t speak our language, that’s an impact, that’s residential school effects.”
George Muswaggon, Pimicikamak Cree Nation, is elder-in-residence at the University of Manitoba and is also the sweat lodge conductor for the camp. He believes there is enough shared knowledge within the nations to bring back the teachings and practices that existed since before the schools.
George Muswaggon, Pimicikamak Cree Nation is a Indian Residential School Survivor and serves as the elder in residence at the University of Manitoba, he was the sweat lodge conductor at the Misipawistik Cree Nation’s Men’s Wellness Camp which began Oct. 1, 2026, the morning after Orange Shirt Day. Credit: Miles Morrisseau/ICT
“We have elders that have a really strong retention of the language, but those same elders through humility and being so humble, are not making the connection of having retained the language, that it’s not ceremonial,” Muswaggon told ICT. “In fact, the greatest ceremonial thing you can do is rediscover the language because the teachings are anchored in the language.”
Fred Stevens is from Sapotaweyak Cree Nation. He was sent 200 miles south to the MacKay Residential School in Dauphin, Manitoba, and spent more time running away than learning. He says Orange Shirt Day is a chance to tell a story that was denied earlier generations.
Fred Stevens, Sapotaweyak Cree Nation, is a residential school survivor who shares his knowledge of traditional medicines and the lessons from the natural world as a way to heal the intergenerational impacts of the Indian Residential School System. Credit: Miles Morrisseau/ICT
“One day out of the year, you make them remember, but also try and instill the message to them, you know, ‘This happened. There’s no denying it because you’re hearing it from the horse’s mouth,’” Stevens told ICT.
“I’m not afraid to tell the story anymore, what happened in there,” Stevens said. “I don’t have to detail it, but it did happen. It happened to one of my parents and I’m sad to say that they didn’t have that chance to share their story.”
Stevens was at the Culture Camp to share the knowledge of medicines he learned as a boy from his grandmother. He has made it his life’s work to help Indigenous people heal from the intergenerational impacts of the residential schools by sharing knowledge of traditional medicines and the lessons found in the natural world.
Men listen to teachings about positive roles they can take on in their community and lead healthy and fuller lives, at the Misipawistik Cree Nation’s annual Men’s Wellness Camp, which ran Oct. 1-3, 2026, in Dauphin, Manitoba. Credit: Miles Morrisseau/ICT
Scott Sinclair, Mosakahiken Cree Nation, coordinates the camp along with his wife, Bobbi.
“We seemed to notice that men were often forgotten,” Sinclair said. “We need healing as well. My wife and I decided we want to help our men. You see it, the effects of residential school and we want to build our men up … teach them that we are good people but we’ve been through a lot. We’ve been through a lot of hurt, a lot of pain, but we are good people.”
The camp ran Oct. 1-4, following Orange Shirt Day. In addition to sweat lodges, survival skills and traditional teaching circles, the final night of the camp was highlighted by an archery competition. The men use bows and arrows they carved themselves over the previous few days.
There was plenty of healing laughter in the good-natured competition, and then an impressive victory by an elder who hit the target three times.
Each participant also took home a medicine pouch that will help them continue their healing journey.
The post ‘A lot of hurt’: Men’s Wellness Camp continues the healing following Orange Shirt Day appeared first on ICT.
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