Revitalizing Culture Through Connection: Labrador Heritage Society's Conne River Cultural Trip with support from the National Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation of Canada

For over five decades, the Labrador Heritage Society http://www.labradorheritagemuseum.ca/home/ has been dedicated to the vital work of collecting, protecting, and preserving the history and traditional cultures of Labrador and its people.

Operated entirely by volunteers and rooted in the community of North West River, the Society remains a steadfast steward of regional heritage—offering programs, maintaining the historic Labrador Heritage Museum http://www.townofnwr.ca/home/11 , and creating opportunities for cultural revitalization. This year, with generous support from the National Sixties Scoop Healing Foundation of Canada, the Labrador Heritage Society is proud to launch a powerful new initiative: a cultural exchange trip to Conne River for youth from Lake Melville School. This project will provide a unique and transformative experience for a student-led drumming group, offering them a chance to connect more deeply with their own cultural roots while learning from the rich traditions of the Mi’kmaq community in Conne River, located in Newfoundland and Labrador.

At the heart of this project is the goal of intergenerational healing and cultural reclamation—values deeply aligned with the Foundation’s mandate. The experience will be guided by Salome Jara Ruse, a Sixties Scoop Survivor and an experienced instructor who will prepare and accompany the students throughout their journey. Salome’s mentorship will ensure that participants are supported both musically and culturally, building confidence, understanding, and pride in their heritage.

The trip to Conne River is not just a physical journey—it’s a journey of reconnection. Many Labrador youth are descendants of families affected by the Sixties Scoop, residential schools, and colonial policies that disrupted cultural transmission. By visiting and engaging with another Indigenous community in the province, students will witness the living resilience of traditional practices, strengthening their sense of identity, belonging, and shared Indigenous solidarity.

The Labrador Heritage Society recognizes that fostering cultural knowledge in young people is essential for both individual healing and community well-being. Through programs like this, history becomes more than a museum display—it becomes a living legacy that continues to shape the future. As we prepare our students to drum, sing, and learn in Conne River, we are also preparing them to carry forward the heartbeat of Labrador’s cultures—strong, proud, and thriving.