Legacy of Hope Exhibition: Escaping Residential Schools

UBC Okanagan community members are encouraged to visit the Legacy of Hope exhibit, Escaping Residential Schools: Running for their lives, on the main floor of the Library to help expand our understanding of the residential school system and its ongoing impacts. 

This exhibition gives first-person testimony by giving a voice to those who escaped Residential Schools and will honour those who died while trying to escape by using personal accounts from family members.

The primary goal of this exhibition is to educate Canadians about the many children who went missing or who died without proper burials while at Residential Schools so that we can properly honour their lives, their families, and give them a voice.

Indigenous Programs and Services has been bringing Legacy of Hope exhibits to the UBC Okanagan community since 2022. Legacy of Hope Foundation is a national Indigenous charitable organization with a mandate to educate and create awareness and understanding about the Residential School System.  Explore their many resources at legacyofhope.ca. 

If you have questions about this exhibit or would like to arrange a tour, please contact Naim Cardinal, Education Facilitator in Indigenous Program and Services, at naim.cardinal@ubc.ca.

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Some of the information shared in the exhibit may be distressing. If you require emotional support or assistance, we encourage you to reach out to your personal support systems and/or contact the following:

• Indian Residential School Survivors Society: toll-free at 1-800-721-0066 or the 24-hour crisis line at 1-866-925-4419
• KUU-US Society Crisis Line, a 24-hour provincial Indigenous crisis line: adults call 250- 723-4050; children and youth call 250-723-2040; or toll-free 1-800-588-8717.
• UBC Okanagan Counselling Services: M-F, 9 am to 4 pm, to meet with a counsellor on campus
• Here2Talk: all registered students have free virtual access to counsellors 24/7 by calling 1-877-857-3397 or visiting www.here2talk.ca