Kahnawake grieves after more unmarked residential school victim graves discovered
For nearly a month, hundreds of pairs of children's shoes have lined the sidewalk outside the Francis Xavier Catholic Church in the Mohawk community of Kahnawake. Those shoes have taken on even greater meaning after the discovery of yet more unmarked graves of residential school victims, this time in Saskatchewan.
“It's been a strong statement for community members,” said Jessica Oesterreich.
The shoes were initially laid after the remains of 215 children were found in unmarked graves outside the Kamloops Residential School in British Columbia. Oesterreich, who organized the tribute, said the discovery of 751 more such graves, this time outside the former Marieval Residential School, has only deepened the community's resolve.
“This has given people opportunity to really grieve, for a lot of younger people in the community that didn't go to residential school but know stories from grandparents and aunts and uncles of what happened when they were there,” she said.
According to the provincial government, Quebec operated six residential schools. The province has recently announced steps towards more transparency on the schools' histories and has said it is committed to helping search the grounds for unmarked graves if survivors and families are in favour.
“Our plan is to consult the different communities and nations, to know what their intentions and will are,” said a government spokesperson. “Some communities already said they're ready for searches. Others want and need more time. We will respect that.”
The discovery of a second grave site is “tangible evidence” of what Indigenous people have long known, said Carleton University Indigenous Studies professor Kahente Horn-Miller.
“I think what this does is elevate the issue into the minds of the Canadian population and, hopefully, into the eyes and hearts and minds of the Canadian government to do something,” she said.
For Oesterreich, reconciliation can only come after the grief has passed.
“I firmly believe that people can't heal and move forward unless they have been given the opportunity to grieve to the extent they need to grieve.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Fewer medical students going into family medicine contributing to doctor shortage
As some family doctors are retiring and others are moving away from family medicine, there are fewer medical students to take their place.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bodies found by U.S. authorities searching for missing B.C. kayakers
United States authorities who have been searching for a pair of missing kayakers from British Columbia since the weekend have recovered two bodies in the nearby San Juan Islands of Washington state.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
Competition bureau finds 'substantial' anti-competitive effects with proposed Bunge-Viterra merger
The proposed merger of agricultural giants Viterra and Bunge is raising competition concerns from the federal government.
Douglas DC-4 plane with 2 people on board crashes into river outside Fairbanks, Alaska
A Douglas C-54 Skymaster airplane crashed into the Tanana River near Fairbanks on Tuesday, Alaska State Troopers said.