In May 2021, the announcement of ‘215 unmarked graves’ at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School prompted a national response and a wave of action across Canada. In response to this announcement, Survivors from Six Nations of the Grand River came together to create the Survivors’ Secretariat; a not-for-profit Survivor led organization at Six Nations of the Grand River. Our mission: to Uncover, Document, and Share the full truth of what happened at the Mohawk Institute Indian Residential School, the longest-operating institution of its kind in Canada.
The Secretariat’s Board of Directors is comprised of Survivors and Intergenerational Survivors of the Mohawk Institute. These eight individuals bring their lived experiences, knowledge, and strength into a governance model grounded in Haudenosaunee legal principles.
“We are the witnesses” is more than a statement, it is the truth. The Board embodies this role as living witnesses, shaping the direction, priorities, and work of the Survivors’ Secretariat. The Board employs and supports the Secretariat Lead, who in turn oversees the staff, advisors, and contractors carrying out this work. The vision and decisions, however, come directly from the Survivors themselves. This is not just organizational governance; it is a guiding path forward.
The Secretariat is built on four key pillars: Ground Search, Document Collection, Commemoration, and Advocacy. These pillars were shaped by Survivors to Uncover, Document and Share the true history of the Mohawk Institute Indian Residential School and its 140+ year legacy. Click here to read more.
The work we do today is not just for the Survivors, it’s for the children who never made it home, for the grandchildren asking questions, and for the communities still searching for answers. Your presence on this Board strengthens the foundation of intergenerational justice and community-led truth.
As the Secretariat enters its second board term (2025–2028), we welcome new voices and continued momentum from second term members. We are proud to introduce three newly appointed members whose perspectives will continue to strengthen our collective work and welcome back five returning members. The new board’s composition includes Survivors and Intergenerational Survivors, and we look forward to their continued leadership and guidance as we navigate the changing landscape of federal and provincial funding. We remain dedicated to urging the Canadian government to release the promised 24.1 million documents discovered in 2023. Together, we will ensure that Survivors can continue their vital work related to the commemoration and memorialization of the children who were taken and never returned home. This work is carried out with truth, courage, grace, and an unwavering commitment to justice, healing, and reconciliation.
Introducing The Survivors’ Secretariat's Board of Directors for the 2025-2028 Term:
Roberta Hill
A member of the Turtle Clan of the Mohawk Nation, Roberta attended the Mohawk Institute from 1957 to 1961, alongside many family members. Returning as a Board Member for the 2025–2028 term, Roberta amplifies Survivors’ voices to preserve truth, respect, and dignity.
Roberta calls for the creation of an archive centre at Six Nations, where the community can be the caretakers of their own history. “The church and Indian Affairs were never open to providing an accurate accounting. We should be the writers of our own history.”
Her advocacy is vital to the Survivors’ Secretariat’s mission to protect Survivors’ truth, and make sure that the history is accurate and safeguarded for future generations.
Sherlene Bomberry
A member of the Wolf Clan of the Cayuga Nation, Sherlene is a Survivor of the Mohawk Institute who attended during 1966–1967 and 1969–1970. Returning to the Survivors’ Secretariat Board for the 2025–2028 term, Sherlene brings courage, lived experience, and a deep commitment to truth-telling and healing.
Sherlene’s healing journey is a powerful example of resilience, balance, and upholding tradition while supporting others on their paths. She reminds us, “Healing begins when we listen to Survivors. The truths once swept under the rug must be uncovered, honoured, and passed down, so future generations remember, and it is never allowed to happen again.”
Sherlene’s leadership strengthens the Secretariat’s mission to preserve Survivor truths and promote lasting reconciliation and healing.
Geronimo “Fish” Henry
A member of the Bear Clan of the Cayuga Nation and member of Six Nations of the Grand River, Geronimo spent 11 years at the Mohawk Institute Residential School. Now serving his second term as a Board Member of the Survivors’ Secretariat, historically he has been a key organizer of some of the earliest Survivor Gatherings here at Six Nations and was an advocate in early lawsuits involving Muncey, Oneida, and Six Nations territories, working tirelessly to mobilize communities for justice.
“We need a place that holds the archives; the records of the children who went to the Mohawk Institute, so they’re never forgotten,” he emphasizes. Through his leadership, Geronimo is committed to ensuring that Survivors’ stories and the missing children are heard, honoured, and preserved for future generations.
Diane Hill
A member of the Turtle Clan of the Mohawk Nation, Diane is a Survivor of the Mohawk Institute Indian Residential School, where she attended from 1963 to 1964. Returning to the Survivors’ Secretariat Board for the 2025–2028 term, Diane brings wisdom, resilience, and a deep spiritual commitment to truth and healing.
Diane believes the strength of Indigenous youth will dissolve the lasting harm of Residential Schools and carry forward a legacy of resilience. “I hope the negative residue left by Residential Schools in our communities and among our people will be dissolved by our Indigenous youth and the coming faces. Our youth are strengthening Indigenous identity with every act of researching, sharing, learning, and listening which overcomes the ancestral impact of generational genocide. Take care of each other, stay strong, keep a good mind, and learn your heritage language.”
Diane’s voice continues to guide the path forward; her voice is rooted in remembrance, dedicated to truth, and grounded in the belief that healing is possible when we honour the past and uplift future generations.
Tony Bomberry
A member of the Turtle Clan of the Cayuga Nation, Tony is a Survivor of the Mohawk Institute who attended from 1967 to 1969. Returning to the Survivors’ Secretariat Board for the 2025–2028 term, Tony brings strength, resilience, and a deep commitment rooted in Haudenosaunee teachings.
His healing journey is one of recovery, reclamation, and hope, grounded in ceremony and community. As Tony says, “We are still here, strong and resilient. Through sharing, honouring our children with ceremony, and standing together, we reclaim our truths and are able to bring our babies home.”
Tony’s focus inspires continued advocacy and healing, ensuring Survivors’ stories are heard, respected, and that he remains a strong voice for the voiceless—the missing and disappeared children of Indian Residential Schools.
Leo Nicholas
A member of the Turtle Clan of the Oneida Nation, Leo ‘Axkook’ is a Survivor of the Mohawk Institute who spent six years there during his childhood. Newly appointed to the Survivors’ Secretariat Board for the 2025–2028 term, Leo brings decades of leadership, resilience, and a deep commitment to truth and justice.
His journey is one of speaking truth, honoring those who never returned home, and holding governments accountable for their promises.
As Leo says, “We survived a system built to erase us, now we stand to uncover the truth, honour the children who never came home, and hold this country to its promises. This work is not just memory, it is justice, and it must be finished.”
A founding member of the Munsee Lenni Lunaape Warriors and a pivotal figure in the original Indian Residential School lawsuit, Leo continues to fight for justice and accountability, ensuring the voices of Survivors are respected and the missing children remain front and center in the national conversation.
Kathy Mair
A member of the Turtle Clan of the Cayuga Nation, Kathy is an intergenerational Survivor of the Mohawk Institute Indian Residential School. Newly appointed to the Survivors’ Secretariat Board for the 2025–2028 term, Kathy brings her deep commitment to truth-telling, healing, and advocacy shaped by her family’s legacy.
Her healing journey is rooted in understanding and breaking the cycle of trauma passed through generations. As Kathy says, “From all the stories I heard growing up, I now understand there were reasons why my family was the way they were. So many of us share similar traits, trauma passed through generations. I’m here to be a voice for them and help bring truth to light.”
Kathy is dedicated to education and community healing, ensuring Survivors’ stories are heard and preserved. With experience in Indigenous policy and community development, Kathy’s leadership strengthens the ongoing work of honouring Survivors and advocating for healing and reconciliation.
Alfred ‘Lonnie’ Johnson
A member of the Mohawk Nation from Six Nations, Lonnie Johnson endured eight years at the Mohawk Institute Residential School, arriving in 1946 with his brother Frank. Speaking only Mohawk, he experienced brutal language suppression and harsh treatment at the “Mush Hole,” where children were stripped of their identity and dignity.
Now a Board Member of the Survivors’ Secretariat for the 2025–2028 term, Lonnie is dedicated to uncovering the truth and sharing the realities of the Indian Residential School system. “We were treated like we didn’t matter. My message to future generations is: Educate yourself. Watch the films. Search the internet. Learn the truth,” he says, bringing his lived experience and unwavering voice to the ongoing work to fight for accountability, truth-telling, and national awareness of this history.
To read our Board of Directors full bio’s, click here.
Remembering John Elliot
As the Survivors’ Secretariat enters its second board term (2025–2028), we reflect on the legacy of John Elliot, who embarked on his Spirit Journey in January 2025. A Survivor of the Mohawk Institute and a founding member of our Board, John was a steadfast advocate for truth and justice.
John’s contributions were not only in his leadership but also in his personal story. Sent to the Mohawk Institute at the age of 10, he became known as the “Runner” for his repeated attempts to escape the institution. Despite the hardships he endured, John maintained a positive outlook and a strong sense of integrity throughout his life. John was a professional painter in Canada and the United States. When he returned to his home in Six Nations, he spent his free time meeting with other Survivors and crafting walking canes to raise funds for the Mohawk Village Memorial Park.
In his own words, John spoke to the urgent need for accountability and recognition of the truth behind residential schools: “It’s been a long time, but those responsible have known all along what was here.” His call for acknowledgment and justice deeply resonates with our mission to confront the past honestly and support the healing journey of Survivors and their families.
The Secretariat extends a heartfelt thank you to our previous Board member Dawn Hill for her dedication and commitment to the Survivors of the Mohawk Institute. In her own words, Dawn Hill, a Mohawk Institute Survivor, has been an advocate for truth and justice: “We need to find the children.” Her call for accountability and healing resonates deeply with our mission to uncover the full history of Indian Residential Schools and support Survivors and their families in their journey toward healing.
A dedicated teacher on Six Nations and in Northern Ontario, Dawn has long been committed to uplifting Indigenous communities through education and advocacy. She continues this vital work through her role with the Mohawk Village Memorial Park, ensuring that the legacy of Survivors is remembered for generations to come.
We are proud to introduce the Board members who will guide the Survivors’ Secretariat through this term (2025-2028). Their leadership continues the work that John, Dawn and others began, ensuring that the voices of Survivors remain at the forefront of our efforts.