Sask. residential school survivor says awareness is growing one year after Kamloops discovery
As more unmarked graves are discovered near the sites of former residential schools, survivors say validation and awareness are two key outcomes from the findings.
One year ago, officials announced the discovery of 215 unmarked graves at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School site in B.C.
The findings kicked off a series of similar discoveries near school grounds across the country, including in Saskatchewan.
Del Crowe attended residential school in Lebret from 1963 to 1968. He said the Kamloops discovery validated his experiences.
“Some children we never saw them again. They just disappeared,” Crowe said. “They wouldn’t tell us what’s going on at the school. We were as much in the dark as anybody.”
Crowe went to residential school from Grade 1 to Grade 5. He compared his time there to what took place in concentration camps during World War II.
He remembers the nuns and priests being mean to the students. However, he said he does not recall details about most of the “horrible stories.”
“There is stuff that you just block out of your memory that you don’t want to remember,” he said.
The pope issued an apology earlier this year, and is now planning a trip to Canada to visit First Nations communities. The itinerary does not include Saskatchewan or B.C.
Crowe was not satisfied with the Pope’s initial apology, calling it a “political move.”
Instead, Crowe said the biggest development that came from the Kamloops discovery is awareness.
“Finally people are becoming aware of this. These are things that I’ve been aware of my whole life. I saw a lot when I was going to my school and I’ve heard many stories from older people and my fellow classmates,” Crowe said.
“We’re hearing more stories so maybe in the future something will happen.”
Lori Campbell, associate vice-president for Indigenous Engagement at the University of Regina, said a broader awareness to what happened at residential schools is necessary to move forward.
“We need to keep it in public memory and keep these conversations going in order to move toward reconciliation,” she said.
“It’s hard to move on and heal and move towards reconciliation until we really understand what happened.”
Campbell said this is just the beginning stage of work that will take years as First Nations continue to search for graves and look to identify the remains.
“This is going to be a very, very long process,” she said.
She encourages people to not become desensitized to the discoveries of unmarked graves.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Iran fires air defence batteries in provinces as explosions heard near Isfahan
Iran fired air defence batteries early Friday morning after reports of explosions near a major airbase at the city of Isfahan, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.