"We were all shocked and personally devastated" by the news, said Harold Cook, a founder of the Grollier Hall Residential School Planning Circle during an opening address to the audience. "Some of us wondered if stirring up old memories... played a factor in his death."

"His death and his short life," said Cook, "are symbols of the tragic consequences of abuse which we personally know did happen at Grollier Hall."

The RCMP's investigation of Grollier Hall discovered a horrifying trail of suffering. A report from the RCMP revealed that 61 former residents during the 1960s and '70s had died since attending the school, with alcohol a factor in the majority of the deaths.

Of these, 16 had committed suicide, five had died as a result of acts of violence, and three had frozen to death -- with alcohol being a factor. Only 14 had died of natural or unknown causes.

The meeting was held to request help from various social agencies and governments. But the discussion soon became a forum for victims to exchange their painful stories.

"It was really emotional," said Lawrence Norbert, co-founder of the committee. "We moved from planning and strategizing to just talking about it... people shared with us some very painful stories of what happened."

Cook said most agencies in attendance offered support to help the victims. "They're singing our song," Cook recalled telling Norbert during the meeting. "We might as well lay back and listen, because it's music."

But Norbert expressed his disappointment that Premier Don Morin and "those who hold the purse strings... did not come out with a statement that they're (financially) committed to the healing process."

"It's taken a year to come to this point," said Norbert. "That's a really sad commentary on the GNWT and its slow response."

The meeting was attended by a number of groups, including

Western Arctic MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew, DIAND, Justice, Health and Social Services, Education Culture and Employment, the Inuvik Regional Health and Social Services Board, the Gwich'in Tribal Council, The Sahtu Secretariat Inc., the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Roman Catholic Bishop Denis Croteau and others.

A meeting was scheduled in Yellowknife yesterday between DIAND Minister Jane Stewart and the committee, to discuss the issue further.