Premier and Indigenous leaders to discuss tragic B.C. discovery
MHA wants grounds of former residential schools, orphanages in province investigated
As the country tries to come to grips with the discovery of the buried remains of 215 children at the site of a former residential school for Indigenous children in Kamloops, B.C., the provincial government was asked Tuesday in the House of Assembly if sites in this province will be investigated.
Jordan Brown, NDP MHA for Labrador West, asked, “As we grapple with the discovery of 215 remains at the site of a former residential school in British Columbia, I ask the premier, will he commit to an immediate review of all residential schools and orphanage sites in this province, as we as a province have a duty to truth and reconciliation?”
Lisa Dempster, minister of Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation, responded, saying the provincial government joins the country in mourning the discovery of the buried remains in Kamloops. She said the government is committed to discussing with Indigenous leaders on which way to proceed.
On Monday, just before Finance Minister Siobhan Coady delivered the budget, the House of Assembly held a moment of silence, and flags in front of the Confederation Building and other sites around the province have been lowered in honour of the children.
“We are very early days yet, Mr. Speaker. We want to be respectful of people coming to terms,” Dempster said. “There is no doubt that this is having an impact and bringing back lots of trauma for people, but we are certainly committed as a government to working with provinces and territories and the federal government as we move forward on direction.”
It was announced last week that preliminary groundpenetrating radar surveys at the former residential school in Kamloops have found the remains of 215 children buried on the school grounds. The former Catholic Churchoperated facility had recorded about 50 deaths of Indigenous children during its decades in operation. First Nations communities had long stated the number of children sent there and who never came home was much higher.
People have been calling for similar investigations at former residential schools and orphanages across Canada.
Outside the House of Assembly Tuesday, Premier Andrew Furey said the issue will be discussed this week during his weekly call with Indigenous leaders from around the province.
“It’s an incredibly sad and tragic day in Canadian history, and Newfoundland and Labrador is not devoid from that,” Furey said. “We all have a responsibility to reflect on the tragedies in our own residential schools and orphanages.
“I am looking forward to the open and honest albeit tough discussion emotionally with Indigenous leaders to figure out the best path forward. But it will be one of consensus and one that will truly reflect the path we are trying to embark on of reconciliation.”
Dempster said she spent Sunday talking to Indigenous leaders around the province about the discovery in British Columbia. She said the news brings back painful memories for many Indigenous people.
“Whatever action we take, we will be doing it in close consultation with Indigenous leadership,” she said. “We are certainly open. We are following what is happening with our colleagues across provinces and territories. This is a very dark, painful part of our history that we must talk about. We have a long way to go toward reconciliation in this province.”