Letters to Survivors

As a part of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission, we are going to send letters to survivors to support, uplift, and honor our relatives. At the NJC we strive to continuously celebrate the journey of healing and resiliency within our Native communities. After successfully distributing 800 Cultural Care Packages between 2020 to 2022, we have decided to open this initiative due to the amazing community response.

This is an initiative that is for the Michigan and Great Lakes Native American community only. Please review the following information below before you submit your request.

The Native Justice Coalition is fond of the art of letter writing with actual ink and paper. In an era of quick communication that often lacks depth and connection, we want these letters to have a deep meaning and connection for boarding school survivors. You will receive a letter in the mail that is handwritten by NJC staff, volunteers, council members, and our Board of Directors. This is a process that will not be done hastily. The letters will be written with compassion, care, and mindfulness.

When Letters Will Be Mailed

Letters to Survivors will be mailed to arrive by Orange Shirt Day – September 30, 2023.

Letters to Survivors Request Info

• Boarding school survivors who are members and descendants of the 12 federally recognized and 4 state recognized tribes of Michigan that reside within the boundaries of Michigan.
• Boarding school survivors who are members & descendants of the 12 federally recognized and 4 state recognized tribes of Michigan that live across the Great Lakes states including Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania & New York.
• Native American, First Nations, Métis, and Inuit boarding school survivors that reside inside the boundaries of Michigan.

Letters to Ontario & Quebec

While Ontario and Quebec are a part of the Great Lakes, please note that we will only be mailing letters within the boundaries of the US and not Canada. Since this is a new initiative of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission we will review where letters can be mailed in 2024.

Amount of Letters We Will Send

We can receive up to 100 letter requests.

Questions

Please direct inquiries and questions to Bronson Herman, Great Lakes Organizer – bronson@nativejustice.org.