Moving beyond boarding schools event at Alaska Native Heritage Center [Video]

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – A summit was held on Friday to continue the healing of former Alaska Native boarding school students and their families after the abuse and cultural harms they endured.

The event was held at the Alaska Native Heritage Center to give a space for indigenous groups and historians to gather and provide support for families impacted by the tragedies.

Panels were held to discuss the long and hard work that has been done to face that trauma and to keep moving forward.

Panelist Shaagunn Astaa said, “I’ve been involved with returning bodies from mental institutions and sanitariums. So I have expertise in that area. And I could help them. And I’ve seen healing occur from having their loved ones brought home with dignity, respect, and honor.”

Other panels focused on addressing the work that still needs to be done on current issues that native groups still face …