Save the Children Statement on Residential Schools, Truth, and Reconciliation

The discovery of unmarked graves of Indigenous children who were killed at a former Kamloops Residential School in B.C. serves as a painful reminder of the violence Indigenous children continue to face in Canada.

These recent findings confirm what has been widely spoken about within the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation and other Indigenous communities for decades. It is imperative to acknowledge that this is more than a dark chapter of Canadian history; violence against Indigenous children in Canada is systemic and ongoing.

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) estimates that more than 150,000 children attended residential schools in Canada from the 1830s until the last school closed in 1996. A time span that encompasses seven generations of Indigenous children forcibly removed from their families. Studies have shown that there was a 40-60% mortality rate in residential schools and most children suffered severe physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. Many children never returned home and those who did return to their families lived with unimaginable trauma as a result of their experiences.

First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people continue to suffer from a cycle of trauma due to Canada’s persistent failings and lack of action.

We have great compassion, and share serious concerns, for the wellbeing of survivors and intergenerational survivors of residential schools. As a child rights organization and advocate for Indigenous rights, we stand with Indigenous communities in calling for justice and ensuring the government is held to account for decades of failing residential school survivors and their families. Canada must step up and meaningfully and immediately implement the Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

There can be no more excuses for the lack of progress. Six years ago, the federal government committed to implementing the 94 TRC Calls to Action, yet it has failed to deliver on all but eight of them. This includes a lack of progress on No. 71, which states that records on the deaths of Aboriginal children in residential schools should go to the NCTR.

Save the Children calls on the Government of Canada to prioritize implementation of all TRC Calls, including those related to:

• Investigating all former residential school grounds across the country;
• Reforming the child welfare system and investing sufficiently in addressing the inequalities that persistently harm Indigenous children; and
• Ensuring accurate Indigenous and colonial history is built into school curricula.

Additionally the Government of Canada must stop taking Indigenous residential school survivors and Indigenous children to court over compensation issues for clear discriminatory practices.

We demand accountability and strongly stand with those advocating for a thorough investigation into this issue so that the whole truth can be known about some of the worst crimes ever to be committed against children.

Support is available for anyone affected by the ongoing impact of residential schools and those who are triggered by these latest reports. 

The Indian Residential School Survivor Society (IRSSS) has a wealth of experience delivering wellness and healing services to Indian Residential School Survivors and intergenerational Survivors throughout British Columbia. IRSSS provides essential services to Residential School Survivors, their families, and to those dealing with intergenerational traumas. These impacts affect every family and every community across B.C. and Canada. The IRSSS can be contacted toll-free at 1-800-721-0066.

The KUU-US Crisis Line Society is a non-profit registered charity that provides 24 hour crisis services through education, prevention and intervention programs. 

A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for former students and those affected. Callers can access emotional and crisis referral services at this 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866-925-4419.

Save the Children has made a financial contribution to these organizations and recommends that donations be directed to these or other Indigenous organizations providing support.