"'A grim chapter in history': the remains of children discovered in a former Canadian school
The deaths of thousands of children were hidden in church- and government-controlled schools.
On May 27, a gruesome find was discovered in the province of British Columbia on the grounds of a former boarding school: a mass grave for 215 Canadian aboriginal children. Some of them were as young as 3 years old.
The remains were discovered using ground-penetrating radar during a survey of the boarding school grounds. The discovery was reported by a B.C. Indian chief. The children's deaths have not been documented and they were reported missing.
"These schools had cemeteries," said Andrew Martindale, a professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia. — Who would build a school with a cemetery? Well... for example, the Canadian government."
Between 1863 and 1998, over 150,000 aboriginal children in Canada were educated in residential schools, of which there were over 130. The schools were controlled by the State and the Catholic Church in order to force Indian children to adapt to life among the Canadian people. Young children were taken away from their parents, forbidden to speak their native language, many were physically, emotionally and sexually abused and died of illness because they did not receive adequate medical care.
The Kamloops Internment, on which 215 burials were found, closed in 1978. It was one of the largest in Canada. It is now a museum.
Experts estimate that more than 4,000 children have died in boarding schools since their inception. The exact figure may be much higher, however, and is unlikely to be established because many incidents were covered up. There had been speculation that the missing children had run away, but the grave on Kamloops land revealed a truth that Canada would have to accept.
"This is a painful reminder of a dark and shameful chapter in our country's history," commented Caroline Bannett, Minister of Indigenous Peoples of Canada, on the news.
Excavations are now needed to establish the truth and try to identify the remains. This could take months or even years. Indigenous people are calling for a full investigation into all residential schools and finding their burials. B.C.'s chief medical examiner, Lisa LaPointe, said the process of gathering information is now in its initial stages.
On 28 May, the day after the graves were discovered, the Government of Canada passed legislation to establish a National Day of Truth and Reconciliation in memory of the dead and survivors of residential schools. Indigenous Affairs Minister Mark Miller said it marked a step towards righting past wrongs.
On 30 May, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asked to lower the flags on all federal buildings as a sign of mourning. Many cities followed suit, lowering flags at city halls. On the same day, 215 candles were lit in a square in Toronto to commemorate the deaths of children, and residents of various cities placed children's shoes and toys in public places.
A Canadian supreme court has ordered the federal government to pay $40,000 CAD in compensation to everyone who was once discriminated against and abused in residential schools. Authorities are attempting to challenge the decision, but Justin Trudeau has promised to discuss with cabinet further actions the government can take to support Indigenous communities and residential school survivors. The Prime Minister acknowledged that Canada still has a long way to go to achieve reconciliation with indigenous nations.
