Tragic discovery of the remains of 215 children discovered under the earth in B.C.
Published 2021-05-28
They went missing and many at the school thought they had run away.
But that wasn't the case.
The children were students at the Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia that closed in 1978, according to the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc Nation, which said the remains were found with the help of a ground penetrating radar specialist.
Canada's residential school system forcibly separated indigenous children from their families, and constituted a "cultural genocide."
The report documented horrific physical abuse, rape, malnutrition and other atrocities suffered by many of the 150,000 children who attended the schools, typically run by Christian churches on behalf of Ottawa from the 1840s to the 1990s.
More than 4,000 children died while attending residential school. The deaths of the 215 children buried in the grounds of what was once Canada's largest residential school are believed to not have been included in that figure and appear to have been undocumented until the discovery. (REUTERS)
We take a look back at a conversation with Elder Barney Williams and Shirley Williams who both survived residential schools on opposite ends of the country. They sit down with Lorna Dueck and Justice Murray Sinclair, head of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, to recount the trauma of being taken away from their families in their formative years.
The purpose of the residential schools were to separate children from their families, to remove the cultural impact. As a result, both Shirley and Barney say they were made to feel ashamed of their culture and identity. Like so many Indigenous people, this trauma is passed down through generations.
Support is available for anyone who needs it following these latest reports.
A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line provides emotional and crisis referral services. They are available 24-hours at 1-866-925-4419.
And the Indian Residential School Survivors Society can be contacted toll-free at 1-800-721-0066.
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All Comments (21)
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I've noticed many major news stations have turned off comments for these stories. Thank you for not turning yours off.
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Canada makes a big show of how much they “respect” and “honor” The “original nations” in Canada. But this puts the lie to that.
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This is so dark in our Canadian history and I wonder why we are not thought in school about this. I'm a Muslim and with no means I want to put down our Christian friends. But this was not right to hold these kids prisoners from 5 to 13 without seeing their parents. I'm so sorry my native family.
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Government was the problem back then and government is still the number one problem today.
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When you speak of heaven but you're actually from hell.
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The Canadian Native Holocaust finnaly exposed to the whole planet.
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growing up native in Canada. i have experienced constant racism since a young age. people spoke and treated me how they wanted. i was discriminated against while in elementary school in the 70s. native people couldn't own land, go past high school, vote or have rights until 1969. all the native peoples who went to war against fascism came home to find a British fascist country. many people bought houses. the Indian agents came and said you are breaking the law. and took the houses and sold them for a fraction of what natives paid.
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They threatened the parents with jail time!
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Catholic church and the government of Canada are ACCOUNTABLE.
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Expose this genocide at any cost.
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I'm so sorry in my heart for all the children through out history that have suffered. I'm left wondering if it will ever change. It is just as horrific today that children all the world over are hurt because of sick people. If I could ever have one wish to be granted it would be for children to be safe and loved all over the world.
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We colonised nations have so much to acknowledge and accept in our past... we need to be open and honest with ourselves and others.
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My heart is so broken, this is truly sad.
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I pray for the lost souls and hope all the atrocities done by missionaries all around the world will come out soon with the evidence like this.🙏
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Every country has it's badge of shame this is Canada's shame. Personally I feel horror for these poor little souls God keep them ,but I know one for sure that the Nuns and Priests that committed these crimes are sitting in hell looking at their sins!
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Pure evil. 😢
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My Heart aches when I hear these stories told by these survivors of a time of abuse and mistreatment. I can relate to their story because I was also a ward of a so called Children's Home run by the Church/Government for 10 years of my young life in a country most would never have suspected,Western Germany that time. This kind of treatment on Children should be shunt in any Nation on Earth.
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They slapped them and then taught them to turn the other cheek. And most importantly 'forgive and love the oppressor'. It is a religion for the oppressor. Why accept it?
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Sounds a lot like us here in Australasia
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This is awful 😢. They tried to brake their spirit.
