LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - A series of five ceremonies took place in Fort Simpson over the weekend to acknowledge the legacy of Dehcho Hall.

Built in the late 1950s by the federal government the building, then called Lapointe Hall, was run by the Roman Catholic mission as a residence for students attending residential school in the village. Grouped together the events were a closing ceremony for the building now that it is being demolished, said Barb Moreau-Betsaka, who organized the ceremonies on behalf of the Liidlii Kue First Nation.

Participants circle the Fort Simpson arbour during a drum dance, one of five ceremonies that was held in the village over the weekend to bring closure to those who stayed in Lapointe Hall while attended residential school. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

"(They're) so people had closure in their lives. Closure with their experience and knowledge of residential school," Moreau-Betsaka said.

The first ceremony, a four directional burn, was held on May 21. Four fires, one in each compass direction, were lit around the village at sunset and kept burning until sunrise. A fifth fire was lit outside of Dehcho Hall.

"The purpose of the fires was to clean the island of all negative energy and to call in all the spirits who are stuck here," Moreau-Betsaka said.

The 10 youths who kept the fires burning and others who visited the fires reported a number of experiences including hearing canoes pulling up to the shore and hearing people talking and walking around them when there was no one there.

On Saturday, 55 people including 17 from Deline attended an elders' meeting to discuss the plans for the next two days. The meeting was followed by a community feast and drum dance that lasted until sunset.

The drum dance was to pray for and help the ancestors who are stuck here go home, Moreau-Betsaka said.

The final three ceremonies were held on Sunday including a fire feeding ceremony attended by approximately 45 people, a passing over ceremony and a final drum dance. The passing over ceremony opened the doorway to heaven or the other side so that the gathered spirits could leave, she said.

Mary Clille of Wrigley was one of the people at the fire feeding ceremony. Clille stayed in Lapointe Hall for two years, 1963-64 when she was between 14 to 15 years old.

"It's about time it comes down," Clille said about the building.

Clille, who also attended the first drum dance, said it was a good idea to hold the ceremonies.

Bella Betsedea also agreed that the ceremonies were needed.

Betsedea, from Willow River, stayed in Lapointe Hall for four years beginning in 1962.

"It's very hard, all the memories bring tears sometimes," she said.

Even looking at the building is difficult, Betsedea said. "It brings lots of memories. Lots of friends and relatives were here before," she said.

In addition to Wrigley, Fort Simpson and Deline former students from Liard and Jean Marie River also attended the weekend events.

"It was a total success," said Moreau-Betsaka about the series of ceremonies.

Moreau-Betsaka thanked everyone who volunteered food and their time over the weekend. There's a much lighter atmosphere in the community now, she said.