OTTAWA – The issue of preserving records detailing abuses suffered by Indigenous children in residential schools has gained attention, with demands for the re-examination of these records for the names of deceased individuals. Currently, only around 30 former students have sought to have copies of their testimonies archived, leaving thousands of records at risk of being destroyed within five years. This possibility has raised concerns among Indigenous elders and survivors, who view these records as valuable historical and sacred accounts.
The debate was intensified after First Nations communities began seeking answers about the fate of children who died and disappeared while attending residential schools. The Tk’emlups te Secwepemc Nation’s discovery of what are believed to be 215 unmarked graves at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School sparked a call for one last examination of records specifically related to burials.
These records were created through the Independent Assessment Process, allowing survivors to seek compensation for the abuses they endured as children in the government-funded, church-run residential schools. From 2007 to 2012, over 38,000 claims were made, with $3.1 billion paid out for compensation. The issue of preserving these records was brought before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, with some parties advocating for preservation while others argued for their destruction. The court eventually ruled in favor of destruction, with survivors given 15 years to access their own files.
However, the courts and compensation process did not adequately address the deaths and disappearances of children. Some individuals, like Kimberly Murray, a former executive director of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, believe that re-examining these records might contain information about potential murders and burials. Survivors have reported witnessing deaths and being involved in burial activities, making it important to review the records to ascertain if they contain details about the names of deceased children.
Murray and others have called for a re-examination of the records, but this process must be conducted with utmost privacy and sensitivity. Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller is overseeing Ottawa’s efforts to archive additional residential school records and has shown a willingness to explore solutions while respecting the confidentiality mandated by the courts.
The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation supports the call to re-examine the records and encourages survivors to share their testimonies, emphasizing that it is a personal decision. The lack of awareness among survivors about their ability to share records has been highlighted as a potential reason for the small number of records currently being archived.
For survivors like Geraldine Shingoose, having her testimony preserved is essential to ensure her experience as a residential school survivor is not forgotten and can be shared with future generations. As the discussion continues, efforts to balance the preservation of history and the utmost respect for survivors’ privacy remain at the forefront.
If you are a former residential school student in distress or have been affected by the residential school system and need help, you can contact the 24-hour Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419, or the Indian Residential School Survivors Society toll-free line at 1-800-721-0066.