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“ From the 19th century until the 1970s, more than 150,000 First Nations children were required to attend state-funded Christian schools
as part of a program to assimilate them into Canadian society. They were forced to convert to Christianity and not allowed to speak
their native languages. Many were beaten and verbally abused, and up to 6,000 are said to have died.
Statement from
Durham Region’s Chair,
John Henry on the
discovery of
215 children’s remains
at former indigenous
school site
Whitby, Ontario – The following
statement is being issued on behalf of
John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief
Executive Officer for The Regional
Municipality of Durham:
“On behalf of the Region of Durham, I am
overcome with sadness about the recent
discovery of 215 children's remains at the
formal residential school on the land of
the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation
in Kamloops, British Columbia. We
honour and grieve for the children who
were taken and never made it home.
The unacceptable truth is that there have
been similar discoveries made years ago,
including those right here in Ontario. Too
many discoveries.
This terrible news also mirrors the
testimonies of lived experience, given
before the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission—stories of sons and
daughters who were stolen from their
families and who never came home. Too
many stories.
In recognition of this difficult time, all
flags at all Regional sites have been
lowered to represent our shared sorrow
and respect for these lost Indigenous
children, their families, and their
communities. I am committed to continue
the work to build meaningful and
respectful relationships with the
community.
As we begin our recognition of Indigenous
History month, we are reminded that the
time is far overdue for honest reflection
about our shared history with Indigenous
communities.
We will continue to fund education on the
history of colonization and the efforts to
ensure cultural safe spaces at the Region.
In June, the Region will be installing a
flagpole to permanently fly the
Mississaugas of Scugog Island flag at
Regional Headquarters, in recognition of
the lands that we reside on.
This situation is a sobering reminder to all
of us to examine our relationships with
Indigenous Peoples, the lands we have the
privilege to be on, and the work that is
required to build relationships that
uphold the Calls to Action in all our
spaces.”
Dur am
z e tel: 416-301-9154
email: ruskin@durhamcitizen.ca
ruskinwr@aol.com
May 24, 2021
OPINION
Ruskin May 21
Remains of more than
200 children found at
Indigenous school in Canada
More bodies may be found because there are more
areas to search on the school grounds, officials said.
KAMLOOPS, British Columbia — The and beyond,” Casimir said in the initial
remains of 215 children, some as young release issued late Thursday.
as 3 years old, have been found buried on The leadership of the Tk’emlups
the site of what was once Canada's The Catholic Church community “acknowledges their
largest Indigenous residential school — has so far refused to responsibility to caretake for these lost
one of the institutions that held children children,” Casimir said.
taken from families across the nation. apologize for its role in Access to the latest technology allows for
Chief Rosanne Casimir of the Tk’emlups Canada’s residential a true accounting of the missing
children and will hopefully bring some
te Secwépemc First Nation said in a news peace and closure to those lives lost, she
release that the remains were confirmed
last weekend with the help of ground- schools, and at his said in the release.
penetrating radar. regular Sunday blessing Casimir said band officials are informing
More bodies may be found because there community members and surrounding
in Vatican City, the Pope
are more areas to search on the school communities that had children who
grounds, Casimir said Friday. made no mention of attended the school.
In an earlier release, she called the The First Nations Health Authority
the mass grave in B.C.
discovery an “unthinkable loss that was called the discovery of the children’s
spoken about but never documented at remains “extremely painful” and said in a
the Kamloops Indian Residential website posting that it “will have a
School.” It was the once the site of significant impact on the Tk’emlúps
Canada’s largest residential school. community and in the communities
From the 19th century until the 1970s, “This really resurfaces the issue of served by this residential school.”
more than 150,000 First Nations residential schools and the wounds from The authority's CEO, Richard Jock, said
children were required to attend state- this legacy of genocide towards the discovery “illustrates the damaging
funded Christian schools as part of a Indigenous people,” Terry Teegee, and lasting impacts that the residential
program to assimilate them into Assembly of First Nations regional chief school system continues to have on First
Canadian society. They were forced to for British Columbia, said Friday. Nations people, their families and
convert to Christianity and not allowed British Columbia Premier John Horgan communities,.”
to speak their native languages. Many said he was “horrified and heartbroken” Nicole Schabus, a law professor at
were beaten and verbally abused, and up to learn of the discovery, calling it a Thompson Rivers University, said each
to 6,000 are said to have died. tragedy of “unimaginable proportions” of her first-year law students at the
The Canadian government apologized that highlights the violence and Kamloops university spends at least one
in Parliament in 2008 and admitted that consequences of the residential school day at the former residential school
physical and sexual abuse in the schools system. speaking with sur vivors about
was rampant. Many students recall The Kamloops school operated between conditions they had endured.
being beaten for speaking their native 1890 and 1969, when the federal She said she did not hear survivors talk
languages; they also lost touch with their government took over operations from about an unmarked grave area, “but they
parents and customs. the Catholic Church and operated it as a all talk about the kids who didn’t make
Indigenous leaders have cited that day school until it closed in 1978. it.”
legacy of abuse and isolation as the root Casimir said it’s believed the deaths are Australia also apologized for its so-
cause of epidemic rates of alcoholism undocumented, although a local called Stolen Generations - thousands of
and drug addiction on reservations. museum archivist is working with the Aborigines forcibly taken from their
A report more than five years ago by a Royal British Columbia Museum to see if families as children under assimilation
Truth and Reconciliation Commission any records of the deaths can be found. policies that lasted from 1910 to 1970.
said at least 3,200 children had died “Given the size of the school, with up to Canada offered those who were taken
amid abuse and neglect, and it said it 500 students registered and attending at from their families compensation for the
had reports of at least 51 deaths at the any one time, we understand that this years they attended the residential
Kamloops school alone between 1915 confirmed loss affects First Nations schools. The offer was part of a lawsuit
and 1963. communities across British Columbia settlement.
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