Like many Canadians, I was heart-sickened to hear about the discovery of a mass grave of 215 Indigenous children at a former residential school near Kamloops BC.
Some have depicted this as a dark chapter in our history, but unfortunately deep, systematic and life-threatening discrimination against Indigenous peoples is threaded throughout our history as a nation and continues today. The last residential school closed in 1996, and many of the survivors of the 139 schools that existed across Canada are alive today, still dealing with the trauma that was inflicted on them as children.
I’d like to draw your attention to two thoughtful pieces that help put this tragic discovery into the context of the work we need to do together to rectify these great injustices.
- This tweet thread from Indigenous leader and Squamish nation spokesperson Khelselim, reminding us of the Truth and Reconciliation Report’s calls to action that specifically address the treatment of Indigenous children.
- This piece from APTN on Institute fellow Cindy Blackstock’s ongoing fight to end the human rights tragedy against First Nations kids. It is shameful that our government continues to try to use legal technicalities to try and get out of their obligations towards Indigenous children.
The Broadbent Institute stands with the Indigenous, First Nations, Inuit and Metis people of this land. We will continue to support them and fight with them to see their rights acknowledged and the Truth and Reconciliation report’s 94 calls to action realized.
I hope you’ll join us.
Sincerely,
Ed
