Lawmakers and First Nations groups are calling for all former residential schools across Canada to be examined for signs of unmarked graves after the remains of 215 children were found.
The discovery sent shockwaves through the nation, prompting communities from coast to coast to lower their flags to half-mast and hold moments of silence in honor of the children. From Vancouver to Ottawa, children's shoes, toys and candles have been left at makeshift memorials.
The graves, discovered with ground-penetrating radar earlier this month, are believed to be undocumented, according to Chief Rosanne Casimir of the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nation, who announced the discovery on May 27.They acted on a “knowing in our community” to look for the unmarked graves, she added.
“If this has taken place at the Kamloops Indian residential school, there is no reason not to believe that it happened right across the country,” Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, told local TV station Global BC. “I think we have not heard the worst of this.”
The commission identified more than 4,100 children who died while in residential schools, but the true number of victims may never be known due to incomplete or missing records. On Wednesday, Indigenous Relations Minister Carolyn Bennett and Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller said the Church and the Pope should apologize to the victims of the residential schools. Miller said it’s “shameful” that an apology hasn’t been offered before.Access to former residential schools could present major obstacles, with many now having been sold off, repurposed or re-developed.
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