Calls for all residential schools across Canada to be investigated come amid demands for criminal charges
Chiara Greco, Nutgraf Press Creator
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TW: this article contains discussion of residential schools, genocide, abuse
The recent investigations of unmarked graves and remains found on former residential school land has developed into demanding accountability and action due to the Canadian government and Catholic church’s role in the mass genocide against Indigenous peoples in Canada.
Earlier in May, British Columbia’s Kamloops former residential school was the first to uncover 215 bodies in unmarked graves buried on the former residential school’s land. This discovery led to schools in Alberta and Saskatchewan being investigated with more unmarked graves found. As of now there is a growing total of approximately 1,323 bodies uncovered and limited apologies and accountability being offered. But, Indigenous leaders and communities are fighting for real tangible change as investigations persist across other residential schools.
Canada’s mass genocide against Indigenous peoples is rooted within the history of colonization which took form through Canadian residential schools. The Canadian residential school system established several assimilation centers across the country in which they took Indigenous children and forced them into a routine laden with emotion, physical, intellectual, and sexual torture and abuse in order to “kill the Indian child” and solidify white supremacy in Canada. Residential schools were the main instrument of genocide against Indigenous peoples and culture. In a CBC News interview Florence Sparvier, a survivor of Saskatchewan’s Marieval Indian residential school states that “a lot of the pain that Indigenous people feel comes from the raw mean-spiritedness that permeated life in residential schools.”
Residential schools have been around since the early 1800s with the last school closing in 1996. Since their inception over 150,000 Indigenous children were forced into the school system and at least 6,000 were killed within the system. In 2008 the Canadian government formally apologised for the system. But, it was only in 2017 following Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission report that these deaths and abuse were rightfully termed genocide. Though, there is still no concrete data on just how many children were murdered as most deaths were undocumented and not acknowledged. Several residential schools did have graveyards on their properties though the federal government stopped counting the number of deaths in the schools in 1920, which means many children have gone unaccounted for.
Residential schools have been the leading factor in Canada’s genocide against the First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people. The first residential school in Canada was opened in 1831 in Brantford Ontario. Since then, there has been a total of over 139 residential schools identified in the Residential School Settlement Agreement with the last one again closing in only 1996. Out of these schools only 7 have been investigated, but as more graves are found calls to investigate each school are being made. In an article by CTV News Indigenous leaders stated that, “The next steps are going to be, not cancelling culture, but calling out culture and making recognition of the wrongdoings and historical trauma that still plagues our people today.”
Both the Canadian government and the Catholic church hold sole responsibility for these schools and the human rights atrocities which were committed against Indigenous children. But, these schools were not just abolished in the 90s, rather the system used was renovated into a Child Welfare system which is still active today in Canada.
In the 1930s the Canadian government recognized that residential schools were costing a lot of money and were failing in their assimilation goals. As such, from the 1940s-2000s residential schools converted into orphanages and child welfare systems. This was followed by what is now called the ‘Sixties Scoop’ where in the 1960s over 20,000 Indigenous children were stolen from their homes and adopted by primarily non-Indigenous families leading to more assimilation.
Following the ‘Scoop’ the government continued to underfund social services and heath care on reserves forcing Indigenous parents to give their children away to get them help. In the past decade, the federal government has been taken to court regarding these abuses and was found guilty. Though despite this, as is evident, very slow progress has been made. In the midst of these tragedies being brought to light, more atrocities are still actively being committed against Canada’s Indigenous peoples.
In May, Kamloops Indian Residential school, a former residential school in British Columbia (B.C.) and the largest such institution in Canada’s residential school system was investigated as part of a survey of the Kamloops school land by a private firm. This survey of the land resulted in an investigation which led to the uncovering of mass unmarked graves in which the remains of 215 children were found. Of the remains found, a report by the BBC notes that 50 children are believed to have already been identified. Their deaths, where known, range from the 1900s to 1971. The remains were uncovered with the help of ground-penetrating radar technology.
While the discovery may not have come as a surprise to residential school survivors, it has given a new found sense of shock and reckoning which has led to other investigations across Canada. Regarding the findings and reports from B.C., The Assembly of First Nations former National Chief Perry Bellegarde has stated that “The outrage and the surprise from the general public is welcome, no question. But the report is not surprising.”
The findings in B.C. lead to investigations in Saskatchewan which resulted in a total of 751 unmarked graves being discovered by the Cowessess First Nation in early June. This discovery is the most significantly substantial to date in Canada. Indigenous lawyer and activist Pam Palmater spoke to City News about this discovery and stated that “The time for action is now, as names are traced back to the unmarked graves […] it’s up to [non-Indigenous people] to educate yourselves about residential schools and the complicity of the Catholic church.”
The potential for more bodies being discovered is now a reality. But, accountability is still at a standstill with criminal charges being discussed amid the Catholic church and Pope refusing any culpability or apologies. While residential schools play a huge part in Canadian history these recent findings of unmarked graves have invigorated a much needed reckoning into the trauma and intergenerational impact of the schools on survivors.
Despite the Catholic church’s refusal to deliver their apologies, many have called for criminal charges on those who were responsible in the residential school deaths. Both priests and nuns who ran the residential schools in Canada have historically escaped culpability though with investigations widening and media attention now growing, their roles in the schools are being taken into investigation.
According to Global News, The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) has called for charges to be laid against those complicit and responsible who are still living—this would include those part of religious orders or former members of government. The NWAC is also demanding the sites of these former residential schools to be declared crime scenes.
In regard to these calls for action government officials have spoken out. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has voiced his support for those experiencing trauma as he released a statement promising federal funding and resources will continue to be provided to further investigations. The federal government has also committed 27 million dollars to assist Indigenous communities in locating and memorializing the children who died. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh also spoke out stating that the federal government must do more than offering condolences, calling for an implementation of action in court. The Catholic church has yet to condemn their actions or provide any support and for the foreseeable future it seems as though the potential for apologies on this end is slim.
With these investigations and growing media attention, trauma for Indigenous communities is being rehashed. While these investigations are important and needed they also lead to re-opening unresolved wounds, wounds which other non-Indigenous Canadians will not be able to understand. This is where education and ally-ship become important. Helping towards the recovery of trauma due to colonial genocide starts with an educated perspective and understanding on the wrongs committed. Healing is overwhelming for many with these deep rooted traumas. For Canadians, help-lines and resources are available. The Indian Residential School Survivors Society toll-free 1(800) 721-0066 or 24hr Crisis Lines are open for those requiring emotional support or assistance. The National Indian Residential School Crisis Line 1-866 925-4419 is also available for contact.
For now, as more investigations on residential school land begin to develop there remains the importance of healing and the responsibility of both the Catholic church and the government to provide assistance towards healing. It is no longer about mere acknowledgement it is now about real tangible action. What must always be remembered in this fight for action is that these numbers, a growing total of approximately 1,323, represent children who were stolen and abused. They were brothers and sisters, they had names. The governments performative antics and the Catholic church’s crimes against humanity must now be accounted for as investigations continue.
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