Faculty of Education | University of Regina | Autumn 2021
Stories about Indigenous education and unmarked gravesites in Canada co
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Dr . Anna-Leah King is an Odawa / Potawattimi originally from Wikwemikong .
When Angelina and I heard of the reveal of 215 unmarked gravesites at Kamloops , British Columbia ’ s former Indian Residential School ( IRS ) site , it affirmed horror for Indigenous survivors . In response , we hosted a feast at First Nations University ( FNUC ). This connected us as we knew we both had in one way or another the IRS experience in common and were pondering what to do and recognizing the sense of heavy spirit that was overtaking everyone . It was a positive and constructive measure .
This news report was only the beginning . A short time later , at Marieval Indian Residential School on Cowessess Reserve , Saskatchewan , another ground-penetrating search was conducted , which found 751 gravesites . The IRS survivors were always aware these gravesites existed and the news was no surprise . Some survivors have shared their stories with each other and with others who did not attend a residential school , but have not always been believed , even by their own people . Being believed about their collective horrific experiences that took place at Indian Residential School has been a long time coming . Some
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Truth and Reconciliation Commision of Canada : Calls to Action . ( 2015 ). shared testimonials with the Truth and Reconciliation commission . In fact , this is where the sharing of these gravesites began . The then Chief Justice Murray Sinclair recommended in the TRC Calls to Action to have ground searches done at every residential school across Canada to finally reveal these gravesites publicly ( TRC , 2015 ). 1 And so it began , ground searches across Canada , to the 139 Indian Residential Schools , to uncover gravesites verifying the tragic end of innocent children ' s lives who came to their deaths at the hands of abusive nuns and priests . The stories of these now Keteyak ( Old Ones ) will never be forgotten .
I remember my Elder and dear friend , the late Laura Wasacase , sharing some of the experiences she and her friends encountered at the Indian Residential schools . Some women heard the babies cry at night but there were no babies in the morning . Some witnessed horrendous physical abuse . Some saw a fellow student “ fall out ” the second floor window to her death , learning later of the possibility that she was pushed because the next girl held on tight and prepared herself not to " fall out " when left alone with an angry nun .
These ground searches at Kamloops and Cowessess were the first of many that would take place across the country in every residential schoolyard . The grand tally will not be known until all the ground searches are www2 . uregina . ca / education / news