INUVIK - A local production company has made a two-part TV program about four residential school survivors.

The episodes are part of the Inuvialuit Communications Society's (ICS) English-language program "Suaangan" that airs a few times a week on APTN.

Stephen Kakfwi performs during the residential school reunion in 2006. The Inuvialuit Communications Society has produced a two-part program on the residential school payments. The half-hour shows will air next week on APTN. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

Producer Stephanie Weimar said residential school payments are not the focus of the programs, but rather the inner strength of the subjects.

"That is what I wanted to show," she said.

"We started talking about making the show when people first started talking about the payments.

"There were a lot of questions about when the money would come and what people would do with their payment."

Weimar said the episodes will serve as a good information source for people who want to know more about the process and what to expect.

"We want people to talk about this and ask questions," she said.

She added that the program could not have happened without the help of a few important people.

"John Banksland, Annie Goose, Sandra Ipana, Eddie Amagonalok and Eddie Lavoie were really helpful, it couldn't have happened without them," she said.

"They really opened their hearts and told some amazing stories."

Weimar said that while working on the shows, she was able to see the trauma the residential school experience caused to the people involved.

"You can see that they made a lot of effort to move on and get over it," she said.

ICS executive director Topsy Cockney said the episodes will help those who want to learn more.

"We want to show a bit of the history, so the younger generations can see what residential school was really about," said Cockney.

"I think these programs capture that feeling."

The program will air on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday on APTN.