SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Counselling programs for residents of Ndilo and Dettah who experienced trauma as a result of residential schools are closing today because funding wasn't renewed in the federal 2010 budget.

Founded in 1998, the Aboriginal Healing Foundation had a mandate to encourage and support healing initiatives to deal with the legacy and ongoing affect of the residential school system.

With a $350 million grant, the foundation supported 134 projects across Canada, including several in the NWT. The foundation put $321,000 toward programs in Ndilo and Dettah. That money expires March 31, 2010.

"We've very sad that it's ending," said Debra Buggins, aboriginal healing co-ordinator for residential school survivors in Ndilo and Dettah. The Aboriginal Healing Foundation has been providing one-on-one and group counselling for residential school survivors and their families.

Buggins said the programs have been growing as family members and people in the community have seen people go through the healing process.

"They've started to feel more comfortable opening up and sharing the stories they've kept hidden for so long," she said. "There's still lots of work to do."

Buggins said she's requested a three-month extension from the foundation to refer people to other organizations and she hopes people who've attending healing workshops will continue meeting at informal support groups.

The Healing Drum Society in Yellowknife, which has received $2.9 million from the foundation, is scheduled to stay open for another year.

Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus said the healing process is only beginning and funding is needed now more than ever.

"You don't turn it around in 12 years ... the people in Yellowknife and in other places are going to take time to feel the lasting affects (of residential schools) and make improvements."

He said people are just beginning to speak about abuse and seek help.

"For the longest time many of our people were in denial. The churches were in denial, the territorial government was in denial, the federal government was in denial. Everyone acted as if nothing happened," he said. "We're only now starting to deal with the impact."

The Assembly of First Nations is asking Ottawa for additional money so programs can continue until 2013. Erasmus said there would be an emergency debate in the House of Commons in Ottawa last night to determine if money could be allocated to the foundation.

There were no details available on the outcome by press time.