Statement on Reconciliation and Marieval Residential School

June 25 2021

Like the rest of Canada, the College has again been shaken by a new discovery of hundreds of Indigenous people -- many of them children -- in unmarked graves, this time on the former site of Marieval Residential School in Saskatchewan.

Marieval closed in 1997 after nearly 100 years of operation, a jarring reminder of the longevity and recency of a system designed to separate families and destroy cultures.

Canada is long overdue for a reckoning with the tragedies inflicted on Indigenous communities to this day. Though our thoughts this week are with Cowessess First Nation first and foremost, they are also with communities across the country that feel the weight of the Marieval and Kamloops discoveries that are part of a larger tragedy.

Such a reckoning is a requirement for genuine reconciliation. We must listen to Indigenous voices and understand this is not about history. It’s about dismantling still existing structures of oppression and working together to create a brighter future that acknowledges a shameful past.

The College supports the ongoing work and efforts of Indigenous leaders and communities to bring closure to survivors, families, and the community at large.

The Indigenous Residential Schools Crisis Line is available 24 hours a day to anyone who is experiencing distress related to their residential school experience. They can be reached at 1-866-925-4419.