Between 1899 and 1959, more than 2,000 children from Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) and səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations were taken from their families to St. Paul’s Indian Residential School.
They were there for the express purpose of having their Indigenous identities rubbed out. We may know soon how many did not come home. The Squamish Nation announced on Aug. 10 they are leading an investigation into finding the remains of children buried in unmarked graves, as we’ve seen at other former residential schools.
We are pleased to see this moving ahead, as it is entirely on the terms of the survivors and their relations. It is incumbent on the wider settler community, who were never wrested from their parents and never lost their right to raise their children, to watch this process and learn. And when the time is right, to offer unconditional support and solidarity in demanding our governments and religious institutions that delivered this harm be held accountable.
Although it was the Roman Catholic Archdiocese operating the school, it was at the behest of the government of Canada. We insist both bend over backwards to provide any assistance and information they have to make this heartrending work no harder than it has to be for Indigenous people who have been left to wonder about their lost relatives.
This will be an especially difficult, emotional time for the survivors and their descendants. We hope they find real healing as a result.
As elder Byron Joseph said at the announcement last Tuesday, we wish all of them “a strong mind and strong heart.”
What are your thoughts? Send us a letter via email by clicking here or post a comment below.
