(Photo of Timber Bay residential school)
WARNING: Disturbing content
The New Democrats are renewing their push to have the Ile a la Crosse and Timber Bay residential schools recognized, to allow survivors to receive compensation and a formal apology.
A petition presented by Saskatoon MLA Betty Nippi-Albright comes as survivors of the Ile a la Crosse school are set to meet next week in Saskatoon to share stories and continue to fight for recognition.
“Recognize the Ile-a-laCrosse and Timber Bay schools as provincially run schools, release the records of these schools, offer the students a formal apology, and compensate the survivors,” Nippi-Albright said.
The Ile a la Crosse operated from 1860 to 1976. Approximately 1500 students, mainly northern of Metis ancestry attended the school. The Timber Bay school operated from 1952 to 1994.
In 2017, the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal ruled that Timber Bay was not a residential school, as it was not government-run. Yet the facility housed children who attended other residential schools.
Last September to mark the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, elder Jimmy Durocher pressed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to recognize the Ile-a-la Crosse residential school, as discussions are ongoing.
“The acknowledgments are critical to incorporating the truth into the nation’s collective consciousness. It’s very important that not just us that are here today are the survivors that are out there that are still suffering, that are still need to deal with this issue, the mental health needs that are there, not just for them, but for all Canadians to understand, so that we can fix this together as one Canada,” said Durocher. The Ile a la Crosse boarding school operated from the 1860’s to the mid-1970’s.
Support is available for those affected by their experience at Indian Residential Schools and in reading difficult stories related to residential school. The Indian Residential School Crisis Line offers emotional and referral services 24 hours a day at 1-866-925-4419. In Saskatchewan, the Regina Treaty Status Indian Services at 306-522-7494.
(With files from Michael-Joel Hansen)