Road to Healing FAQ

Road to Healing Event

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the Road to Healing Tour?

The Department of Interior (DOI) launched the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative to bring awareness to the trauma that Indigenous people endure as a direct result of boarding schools. The Road to Healing Tour, a series of listening sessions within Indian Country, is an integral step in the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative to hear from survivors and their descendants about their experiences and to influence subsequent work of the Initiative. The Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians have been asked to host the Michigan-based segment of the Road to Healing Tour to bring awareness and healing to local Indigenous communities impacted by boarding school experiences. The 35 Tribal Nations from Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa have been invited to participate in the listening session. The event is open to the public but the ability to provide testimony is restricted to boarding school survivors and their descendants.

If I’m a member of the Press, how can I gain access to cover the event?

Press must be screened by the Department of Interior. Tribal Nations who would like to record the session for their archives must also screen their staff through the DOI. If you are interested in covering the event, please contact Tyler Cherry at tyler_cherry@ios.doi.gov to RSVP for the event as press. Approved members of the press are only allowed to cover the first hour of testimony. After the first hour, they will be escorted off the premise to respect survivors and descendants who may feel uncomfortable having the media present as they share their experiences.

How can I provide testimony?

Testimony can be provided in three different ways. Survivors and descendants can share their experiences openly at the Road to Healing event if they are comfortable. Alternatively, for those that wish to share their experiences in a more private setting, there will be a room reserved for individuals to record their experiences privately. The recordings will be submitted to the Department of Interior at the end of the event by the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, a 501(c)3 organization that has a partnership agreement with DOI. To learn more about NNABSHC, please follow the link: About Us – The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition.

How will my testimony be used?

Collected testimony will inform the Federal Government’s subsequent work on the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative.

Will transportation be provided to and from the event? 

Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians will be providing a shuttle from the LTBB Government Complex to the school’s main office to Pellston Schools. The shuttle will depart each stop at the top of the hour until the event ends. The first shuttle ride will depart from the main entrance of the LTBB Government Center at 9:00 AM and the departure time of the last ride from Pellston Schools will be based on when the event officially ends. A bus schedule is posted on the Road to Healing event page on the LTBB website.

Some Tribal Nations are offering shuttle services to the event. Please contact your Tribal Administration to see if your Tribe is providing this type of assistance. Additional transportation options may be available and shared once confirmed.

Is there parking on-site?

On-site parking is available at the school. Several parking lots surround the school. A map of the school and parking can be downloaded here.

What does the agenda look like?

An agenda will not be provided until the day of the event for security reasons. Guests will receive an agenda upon entry into the event.

What types of resources will be on hand?

The ultimate goal of this listening session is to promote the healing of our communities. Indian Health Services and LTBB Health professionals will be on-site to provide trauma-informed support. The sharing of testimony will be triggering for many and the effects of reliving this trauma may extend passed the event. Additional resources for after-event support will be available to ensure that individuals have care throughout their healing process.

Are masks required?

No, masks are not required at the event but will be available to attendees. Hand sanitizer and tissues will also be available throughout the event.

Will there be food provided?

Light refreshments will be provided throughout the event. A courtesy boxed lunch will be available during the meal break.

Is there travel assistance available?

Staff is working hard to identify resources for lodging and transportation assistance by working with external partners. Please check back for more details as they become available.