The discovery in May of the remains of 215 Indigenous children - students of Canada's largest residential school has sparked national outrage and calls for further searches of unmarked graves.
The remains of these children were discovered buried at the site of a former indigenous boarding school, near the city of Kamloops, by a ground-penetrating radar specialist confirming the grim discovery.
Some of remains are believed to be of children as young as three.The findings have brought the world’s renewed attention to this humiliating chapter in Canadian history, have left deep scars on hundreds of communities and have sparked renewed demands for justice from the Canadian government and churches that have run schools for decades.
The Buried Horrors of Canada’s Residential Schools
There were more than 130 residential schools like the one in Kamloops. The Canadian residential schools, which were spread across the country, were intended to “civilise” and integrate Indigenous peoples by eliminating their culture and languages.
The turbulent colonial history of Canada has left a legacy of residential schools. The Indian Act, a broad piece of law imposing severe supervision over the lives of indiginous people, was approved by parliament in 1876. They were forced to reside on reservations and were not permitted to leave without permission.
WHAT IS THE CURRENT SITUATION?
At least 139 residential schools were administered by Catholic, Anglican, and United churches with financial backing from the federal government during the most of the twentieth century.
Thousands perished through sickness, neglect, and suicide, and more were physically, verbally and sexually assaulted.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) recognised 3,200 verified fatalities, however it emphasised that the task of identifying and commemorating them was "far from finished." Approximately 6,000 children are said to have died.
CONCLUSION
The truth and reconciliation commission concluded in 2015 that the residential school systems constituted to a "cultural genocide" of Indigenous people, based on hundreds of hours of testimony from survivors. Justin Trudeau, Canada's prime minister, has promised to take "real action" to assist Indigenous communities in their hunt, but the expenses are likely to be greatly beyond the government's funding.
Meanwhile, as the searches continue, the number of unmarked graves – and those who died attending the schools – is only expected to rise.
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