215 & Counting: More Than Meets The Eye
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215. Children. Some as young as 3 years old.
Undocumented deaths. “Missing” children.
Prior to this discovery, the number DOCUMENTED deaths in Canadian residential schools was already estimated to be 4,000. How many more are undocumented? We will never know. These are the dark secrets that lie beneath our feet.
These CHILDREN died far from home, alone, and their families were rarely informed of their death at all. These deaths were due to illness, malnutrition, and abuse. All in the name of “education” and “taming”.
While the government certainly played a key role here, it is undeniable that religion was at the heart of it. Like it is in so many atrocities. How many communities and cultures throughout this entire world were suppressed and ultimately destroyed “in the name of god.” As I have traveled through North America, Asia, and Oceania, I have seen it time and again. Like groundhog day with a different backdrop. In the case of these particular schools, the documented religions involved were: Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, and United.
As the Eagles sang in The Last Resort: “Satisfy our endless needs and justify our bloody deeds. In the name of destiny and in the name of god.”
These children were forcibly taken from their families by the Canadian government and by the churches. Sit with that for a minute.
Think of YOUR children, or your nieces or nephews, or children that you know in your community. Now imagine them being ripped from their homes, their families, their communities, and all that they know. Children between the ages of 3 and 17. Siblings often separated from each other. Placed in an institution with no family contact permitted. Their hair was cut, their belongings were taken, their identity and dignity stripped. They were physically, emotionally, and sexually abused. They were not allowed to speak their language or participate in their cultural practices.
I’ve watched people freak out this past year that their government or school required their child to wear a CLOTH MASK on their face. Or have assigned seating on the bus. Or learn through a computer screen for a few weeks or months. Surely, if that is considered an infringement of rights, one can also see the gross injustice in this situation.
Some of the children in these schools were purposefully and systematically starved as part of “nutrition research”...for the investigators to determine what the lowest levels were for certain essential nutrients; what level of consumption drew the line between “deficiency” and "adequacy" and how the symptoms of those deficiencies presented. Have you ever looked up minimum lab values or minimum daily nutrient requirements? Or what symptoms would clue you in to a nutrient deficiency? Particularly for your own children because you were concerned they may not be getting "enough"? Have you ever wondered where some of that base information came from? These children were also denied dental care so that the researchers could document the effects of dental decay. (Nature, 2013; Paediatrics & Child Health, 2014)
In the words of Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada’s first prime minister: “When the school is on the reserve, the child lives with its parents, who are savages, and though he may learn to read and write, his habits and training mode of thought are Indian. He is simply a savage who can read and write. It has been strongly impressed upon myself, as head of the Department, that Indian children should be withdrawn as much as possible from the parental influence, and the only way to do that would be to put them in central training industrial schools where they will acquire the habits and modes of thought of white men."
The residential school system in Canada was set up in 1828 and the last one didn’t close until 1996. You read that right, 1996. That is 168 years. Or almost 62,000 days. About 6-7 generations.
In 1996, while I was excited about being able to drive a car, taking my first airplane ride, traveling to Egypt, and free to be an oblivious teen having fun with my friends...there was STILL a residential school operating in Canada. “Peaceful”, “kind”, “polite”, “compassionate”, “inclusive”, "accepting", “multicultural” Canada. In case you are wondering, the last one standing was located in Aklavik, Northwest Territories.
There were a total of 139 KNOWN federal residential schools in Canada. That number does not include those that were run by the provincial governments or those run separately by private religious orders. It is (under)estimated that 150,000 First Nations, Indigenous, Inuit, and Metis children were abducted from their families and placed in these schools. Only to be subjected to government-sanctioned, church-sanctioned abuse. Many never to return. And the ones that did return brought all of that trauma back with them. To their communities, and families, and children.
In the winter of 1883, Catholic missionary Father Louis Cochin said: “I saw the gaunt children dying of hunger…although it was thirty to forty degrees below zero their bodies were scarcely covered with torn rags.” Let me say that again...the temperature was -30 to -40F (-34 to -40C). Children. Dressed in rags. Depending on where you live today, I bet that the schools in your area probably close when it drops between -20 to -35C (-4 to -31F). And even then, your kids probably spend most of the day inside a warm building and have adequate winter clothing.
Why am I writing about this in such detail? Why not just share a "hug" emoji or a "sad face" comment, or sign a petition and move on?
Because I grew up in a small town that was near OTHER residential schools. Not the one where the bodies of these 215 children were discovered. I am sad to say that this type of discrimination still has a stronghold. It is ever-present. Even when it is invisible. Like a silent fart. You may not hear it. But it permeates. And that can sometimes be the most offensive.
I am also a healthcare provider who has worked with Indigenous communities in Canada, the United States, and Micronesia. I am a strong advocate for all WOMEN and their WELLNESS...and the wellness of women is inextricably tied to the lives of their children. And the ability to care for, provide, and protect those children. The BASIC right to have those children not taken from them. And placed into a neglectful, dangerous, or abusive situation. So that is a small glimpse into my WHY for writing this.
In the area where I grew up, there were 6 residential schools in a 300 km (186 mi) stretch. The last one in that area closed in 1974, before I was born. I have Indigenous ancestry, something that I quickly learned should be carefully hidden in some circles. Analyzed and judiciously delved out after careful calculation. Something that today I am deeply ashamed to have ever hidden. But I selfishly hid it to avoid taunting and exclusion. My blonde hair, green eyes, and fair skin allowed me the perfect disguise to deny that side of myself for protection. It allowed me growth. And opportunity. And I took it and used it to my advantage. Many of my family and friends did not have that privilege. I never felt the same pressure to hide my Ukrainian, Irish, Scottish, or French ancestry.
I have Indigenous people in my family. I have Indigenous friends that I consider to be family. Despite this, I don’t personally know of any residential school stories, because this is not something that was talked about. It was an underlying dark truth. Known but not discussed. Something “bad” in the “past”. Except it wasn’t really PAST, was it? I am certain that I personally know many that were impacted by the effects of the residential school system. They just haven’t openly discussed it with me.
I have heard many Canadians toot their horns ad nauseam about their collective inclusiveness and acceptance. It happens each time that racial tensions rise in the United States. Most recently, about a year ago. A figurative brow-wipe and collective back-pat.
“We aren’t like that.”
“We supported the Underground Railroad and welcomed slaves escaping from the U.S.”
“We accept all races and cultures.”
“We welcome Syrian (and other) refugees with open arms.”
Well, it’s time to put down that horn. It is tired and out of tune.
Perhaps worse than that is that I suspect there are some Canadians that still truly believe in the general concept of “diversity”. That people of other countries, skin tones, cultures, or languages are welcome, and valued, and worthy. Many Canadians love to embrace other cultures; they appreciate the music, and festive colors, and hairstyles, and mindfulness practices, and food. They praise the general concept of DIVERSITY and work very hard to incorporate it in a systematic way into their daily lives. What an ardent goal, this diversity inclusion. A special treat or luxury.
And yet somehow, despite this, at the heart of it, they still see Indigenous Canadians and their rich culture as LESS THAN. A "yeah, but", an "except, when." Something to be “fixed.” Or “dealt with.” Or "managed." Nothing to be genuinely considered, acknowledged, respected, or fought for. Not worth a seat at the table.
While living in Hawaii, I witnessed a beautiful cultural exchange between 3rd graders. One from an Indigenous community in Canada, one from an Indigenous community in Hawaii. They each shared a traditional dance from their community. Each showed appreciation for the other. I couldn't help but wonder why people paid large sums of money to attend a Hawaiian Luau or Bon dance, but the very similar Powwows where I grew up were denigrated or ignored.
I grew up in a small Anishinaabe & Metis community in Northwestern Ontario. As a young physiotherapist, I worked in a nearby town at a federally-run “Indian” hospital (yes, this is actually what they were called). In the past, many community hospitals refused to treat Indigenous patients, or would sometimes place them in dark, cold, poorly ventilated hospital basements. So, in the 1920s, the federal government began to build segregated hospitals. Which, given the circumstances around refusal-to-treat, seemed like a pretty good idea at the time. At least care would be provided, rather than refused. However, these hospitals typically received less resources and were not run to the same standards as the “white hospitals.”
The hospital where I worked was originally built in 1949 as a tuberculosis sanatorium and was later converted to a hospital for the Indigenous community. When I was there in 2001-02 it had changed very little, if at all, since it was built. The walls were stained and crumbling. It was old and neglected. The equipment was outdated and supplies were limited.
I’ve included a picture of the hospital below. This is an example of not judging a book by its cover. Despite its appearance, it was one of the most warm, collaborative, and caring environments that I have ever worked. Some patients that we treated lived in the local community and others were flown in from remote northern communities for rehabilitation before returning back to their homes. A new, updated hospital was finally built in 2010 and it is beautiful and was a great thing to see happen for this community.
In 2017, in a city about 3.5 hours away from where I grew up, an Indigenous woman was walking down a residential street with her sister. A truck of white men drove past. One of the men threw a trailer hitch out of the truck window at the two women. It struck one of them in the abdomen. The man was heard saying, “I got one.”
Got ONE.
Like he was shooting a basketball, or popping a balloon with a dart. Not a person. A thing. I GOT one. He shoots, he scores. That woman sustained a ruptured intestine from the attack and later died from her injuries. SHE is gone. She was 34 years old. She left behind a 16 year-old daughter. While the hitch-thrower has since been found guilty, he is currently FREE on bail. Alive and well in the community. Free to walk down residential streets without fear of random trailer hitches being thrown his way. His sentencing has been delayed until June 7, 2021.
I add all of that extra background to say that this is so much MORE than those 215 children that were found this past weekend. As awful as it was to hear, as much as it hurt my heart...I cannot say that I was surprised these bodies were found. Because I have lived it and worked it and heard it my whole life. And even at that, not even close to as much as many others have.
I added that background to testify that Canada is not “better”. It is not “more inclusive” or “more accepting”. It is not free of racism or oppression or genocide. Not in 1828, not in 1996, not in 2017, and not in 2021. Perhaps it just hides it better. Wolf in sheep’s clothing. Things said behind closed doors, or in trusted groups around the campfire, or in the fishing boat, or on the snowmobile trail.
“Them.”
“One of those.”
From the whispers in the community disparaging Indigenous people. To the “relax, it was just a joke” comments. To the crumbling, inadequate, healthcare services. To outright racist remarks and flying trailer hitches. To the systemic, pervasive, discrimination at every turn. In schools, and stores, and sports, and hotels. In all communities throughout the country. Still. Today. In 2021.
I have a family member who is a nurse that currently works at the nursing stations on remote northern reserves. When I first worked there she was probably about 5 years old. When we talk, she tells me that little has changed. It may not be occurring in organized residential schools anymore. But families are still being traumatized. Services are still being withheld. And children are still dying.
I am not sure what I hope this extremely long post will do. Perhaps shed some light for people that just aren't aware. Maybe point out that these things are still going on in different ways. And just maybe help a few people to change their thoughts on Indigenous culture, Canada’s history, and help them to identify this behavior when they see it. Squash micro-aggressions one at a time.
I also hope it gets people to acknowledge that while government has blame here, so do these churches. The government may have decreed the abduction of these children. The government may have wholly or partly funded these schools. But it was the churches and their actors that actively participated in these atrocities on the ground. With their hands. Genocide. If you’re protesting the government right now...I hope you are also banging on the doors of these churches...or withholding your donations. Send that tithe to the survivors of these schools and their descendants. Use those funds to build and support Indigenous communities. In the name of "god".
I love my country. But we are not “better.” I sure would like us to be, though. And I believe that we can be.
The bodies of these 215 children were found in Kamloops, British Columbia. Ground-penetrating radar was used to locate the bodies. I highly doubt these are the only ones. There are now multiple petitions to use this same technology to search other residential school sites throughout the country. Here is one of them.
Please take the time to sign it:
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This is a story about just ONE child, Chanie Wenjack. His experience took place at a residential school about 2 hours from where I grew up. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chanie_Wenjack
Chanie Wenjack’s story, as told by Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip: https://secretpath.ca/
Here is a link to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Canada: http://www.trc.ca/index.html
Seven Fallen Feathers is a book about some of the awful hidden truths of modern Indigenous life in Northwestern Ontario: https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Fallen-Feathers-Racism-Northern/dp/1487002262
Below are a couple more links on this particular story about the 215 children that were found. Feel free to share more of your own links and resources in the comments. News articles, personal stories, petitions.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/stefanovich-un-national-inquiry-genocide-response-1.5174855
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