Building Bridges Between Academe and Community: Case Study of the Healing of the Seven Generations Project

Abstract

The following article is an account through the eyes of a community partner and two instructors at Wilfrid Laurier University who, through a series of events, contributed to the development of a community-based aboriginal healing program. The Healing of the Seven Generations Project is an attempt to address issues of healing amongst survivors and intergenerational survivors of the residential school system living in the Waterloo Region. Given the history of academic exploitation between certain researchers and aboriginal communities, the authors submit that this particular initiative may be considered as a model for future collaboration between academic institutions and aboriginal community groups given its attention to anti-oppressive practice and community development. A more extensive version of this article has been published in other venues. The purpose of this submission is to share the journey of the actors involved in this project as well as to encourage reflection on the merits of university and community collaboration within aboriginal spheres.