After the tragic news that 215 children's remains have been discovered on the ground of the Kamloops Indian Residential School, Indigenous leaders are now pushing Canada to assist in the search for the remaining unmarked graves. The remains were confirmed last weekend with the help of a ground-penetrating radar specialist, according to Chief Rosanne Casimir of the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc First Nation.
The find was described by Casimir as an "unthinkable loss" that was discussed but presumably never documented at the Kamloops Indian Residential School. More than 4,100 children died while attending a residential school, according to the Canadian Government. This concludes the possibility that the deaths of the 215 children buried in the grounds of what was formerly Canada's largest residential school are believed to have been overlooked and unreported until their recent discovery.
Trudeau wrote in an empty tweet that the news “breaks my heart – it is a painful reminder of that dark and shameful chapter of our country’s history”.
Citizens of Canada and getting tired of this old trop of Sending thoughts and prayers Saying “we are here for you” is just another political ploy with no actual change. Where is the accountable action? People are tired of his performative activism and are seeking real policy and legislative action.
In fact, The Trudeau government has actually spent over $3.2 million in court battling a group of Ontario residential school survivors. Total legal costs in the litigation against survivors of St. Anne's residential school, which was located in Fort Albany, Ont., are $3,231,000 from January 1, 2013 to October 1, 2020.
"It just shows the ruthlessness of the federal government and the willingness of [Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister] Carolyn Bennett to go to the wall against people who suffered some of the worst crimes ever committed against children anywhere," said Charlie Angus, NDP MP, in a statement to CBC.
“The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation was established and is now responsible for the Student Death Registries. Since Budget 2019, we have been engaging with Indigenous communities impacted by residential schools on how best to proceed with implementing Calls to Action 72 to 76. We have listened and are ensuring that the approaches taken moving forward are Indigenous-led, community-based, Survivor-centric and culturally sensitive. The TRC revealed the heartbreaking details of the role that residential schools played in the history of Canada and the tragic legacy that continues today. It is said that once you know the truth, you cannot un-know it. Yesterday’s discovery reflects a dark and painful chapter in our country’s history. We remain committed to supporting Survivors, their families and communities through their healing journeys.””
Until there is a clear path to ensure the discovery and documentations of unmarked graves where residential schools used to stand not so long ago, people will continue to be outraged and work to push for a solution that has a main focus on indigenous healing and perspective.
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