Hundreds of former students of St Michael’s residential school near Duck Lake have come together this week for a special and emotional event. The week long gathering was the idea of Elders and council at Beardy’s Okemasis Cree Nation. Fenton Favel attended the school from 1979 to 1987 and was only 12 when he first arrived. He told paNOW he is grateful for the opportunity to share his own story in a safe space. “It’s a good experience and I think what they are doing here is a excellent idea,” he said. Acknowledging his own mix of good and bad feelings about being back, Favel said he has found comfort being around his peers.