A four-day healing gathering for former students of the Guy Hill Indian Residential School and their families is set for July 31 to August 3, 2026, in Clearwater Lake Provincial Park, Manitoba. Hosted by Norway House Cree Nation and the Cree Nation Tribal Health Centre Inc., the event aims to provide support and cultural connection at the site of the former school.
The Guy Hill school originally operated at Sturgeon Landing, Saskatchewan, before a fire in 1952 forced a relocation to The Pas. A new school building opened at Clearwater Lake in 1958. Run by the Catholic Church, the school closed on June 30, 1979, amid declining attendance and allegations of abuse. A monument to Helen Betty Osborne, a former student murdered in 1971, also stands on the grounds.
Organizers say the gathering will include traditional activities such as fiddling, drum making, sweat lodge ceremonies, medicine ceremonies, cedar baths, and massage therapy. A feast is planned for August 3, and breakfast and lunch will be provided each day.
This event continues work by Norway House Cree Nation to address intergenerational trauma, which has included ground searches for unmarked graves since 2022 and the opening of the Kinosew Sipi Nanatawiwekamik Health Centre of Excellence in August 2024. A similar family healing gathering was held in June 2025.
Those seeking more information can contact Danika King, project manager for the NHCN Indian Residential School Program, at [email protected].
