INUVIK - "It's like something big hit the ground," said Isidore Zoe. "Words carry so far, so deep, so high."

Chief Wilton Littlechild, one of the three commissioners leading the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, reads his opening remarks last Tuesday at Jim Koe Park in Inuvik. - Nathalie Heiberg-Harrison/NNSL photo

Zoe, who resides in Whati, was one of the 1,000 residential school survivors who congregated in Inuvik this weekend for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's Northern national event.

Seven generations, 130 years, 132 schools and more than 150,000 students – the numbers are staggering, but the stories the survivors told, flanked by health support workers armed with tissues and encouraging words, were even more staggering.

"I am number 244. I went to Grollier Hall in 1968," said one man to begin his statement.

He was taken from his family, sexually abused and then as an adult neglected his children and family because he didn't know how else to cope.

He later had heart surgery, he explained, but still needed to heal his soul.

His story echoed the story of so many others. Children who were taken from their parents, taught their race and culture was inferior and often abused, inadequately fed and neglected.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was created in 2008 as a part of the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement, the largest class action settlement of its kind in Canada.

Its goal is to educate Canadians on the history and impact of residential schools, as well as promote reconciliation between aboriginal families, churches, governments and communities.

One major part of this is hosting seven national events, over five years, to gather survivors and hear their stories.

Last year in Winnipeg, between 10,000 and 15,000 people attended the first national event. In October, Halifax will play host.

Justice Murray Sinclair, Chief Wilton Littlechild and Yellowknife's Marie Wilson were chosen to act as commissioners and facilitators. Their job is, in essence, to listen to the stories.

"They need to know what happened to you. We need to know what happened in Canada," Sinclair told survivors Tuesday. "We are all still healing, for it has not all been heard."

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's Northern national event officially kicked off last Tuesday morning with speeches from the commissioners, as well as elders, territorial leaders and representatives from the church.

Over the next four days, more than 2,500 people filled Jim Koe Park, the Midnight Sun Complex and Sir Alexander Mackenzie School for feasts, old time dances, concerts and talent shows, as well as venues for survivors to share their stories.

"Circles of reconciliation" were held for people to discuss forgiveness and healing; "Dialogues of resilience" were held for survivors to share their success stories; "sharing circles" were held to discuss the past; "Commissioners sharing panels" were held for people to make statements to the commissioners; "Expressions of reconciliation" were held for individuals and organizations to formally apologize; and rooms were available at Aurora College for people to make private, confidential statements.

On Friday survivors were presented with 500 cupcakes topped with 500 candles, baked by volunteers at the Anglican church, and happy birthday was sung in various languages. In residential schools, students couldn't celebrate birthdays.

Zoe said he's thankful for everything the town of Inuvik, volunteers, health support workers and the commission has done for survivors.

"We all share the same thing. We all share the suffering," he said, adding he wishes everyone had the strength to do what so many survivors did over the course of the week.

"All my friends won't show their trauma and they're not going to let it go," he said. "It starts easing the blow, but if you don't talk, it doesn't soften anything."

Zoe, who attended residential school throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, said the event have helped show what the schools did to society, children, homes and communities, but was critical of the resolution it would bring.

"When (Stephen Harper) says 'Truth and Reconciliation,' what does it mean when my people are still in jails? We need our culture, our history, the way it was. This is a consolation."

Wilson said the work that's being done isn't in vain, and will ensure ignorance is never used as an excuse again.

In addition to creating a historical record of Indian residential schools, the commission will lay out recommendations for all parties involved in the settlement agreement and establish a national research centre for all Canadians to access.

Sinclair said the lasting effects – suicide, addiction, violence and abuse – that now plague communities can't be the only legacy left by the schools.

"We also witnessed, again and again, such positive strength," he said.

'The work of reconciliation in Canada is going to take decades," Wilson added.

After seven generations and 130 years, guided by three commissioners at seven national events, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission will finally have completed its mandate, but the numbers won't tell the story – the survivors will.

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