Returning To Spirit - Residential School Reconciliation Inc.

Returning To Spirit - Residential School Reconciliation Inc. is a Canadian Indigenous-led nonprofit organization dedicated to healing and reconciliation related to the legacy of the residential school system. Incorporated in 2006, the organization has been delivering experiential reconciliation workshops across Canada since 2001, playing a significant role in facilitating personal transformation and empowerment among Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants alike.

History and Founding

Returning To Spirit (RTS) was co-founded by Marc Pizandawatc, an Algonquin from Kitiganzibi First Nation, and Ann Thompson, a Sister of Saint Anne from British Columbia. The initiative emerged from a meeting between the two during a workshop in Yellowknife, leading to the creation of a structured process aimed at healing trauma caused by residential schools. The movement gained support through the Most Reverend Denis Croteau, O.M.I., Bishop of Mackenzie-Fort Smith, who helped expand the initiative across various dioceses in Canada.

The Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council contributed to the development of RTS by providing funding from the Fund for Reconciliation, Solidarity and Communion until the organization’s formal incorporation. Since then, RTS has enabled hundreds of Church members and First Nations individuals to reclaim and reconstruct their personal and communal lives.

Mission and Activities

Returning To Spirit focuses on delivering reconciliation workshops that foster healing from the intergenerational trauma left by residential schools. The organization conducts separate workshops for Aboriginal participants, including former residential school students, and for non-Aboriginal individuals such as religious men and women who were involved in the schools’ administration. These workshops culminate in joint sessions designed to promote mutual understanding and reconciliation.

The approach is experiential and Indigenous-led, emphasizing conversations that encourage personal healing and societal reconciliation one dialogue at a time. Returning To Spirit also offers a calendar of upcoming workshops and accepts donations to sustain its work nationwide.

Recognition and Impact

Returning To Spirit is recognized by the Canadian Catholic Bishops as an effective and proven method for fostering healing and reconciliation between Indigenous peoples and the Church. Through its programs, RTS has contributed substantially to bridging divides and promoting understanding in Canadian society.

Registration and Classification

Returning To Spirit - Residential School Reconciliation Inc. operates under the business registration number 824958920RR0001. It is registered as a charitable organization under the relief of poverty category, reflecting its commitment to addressing social and communal disparities caused by residential school trauma.

Returning To Spirit continues to advance reconciliation efforts by promoting dialogue, healing, and empowerment rooted in Indigenous leadership and perspectives, thereby supporting Canada’s broader journey toward truth and reconciliation.