Fort William First Nation and Nishnawbe Aski Nation honour the 215 children found at former Kamloops Indian Residential School
By Rick Garrick
THUNDER BAY — Fort William and Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) held a Sacred Fire in honour of the 215 children found at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School from May 31-June 4 in Thunder Bay. The Sacred Fire was lit on May 31 at the former St. Joseph’s Indian residential school, which was located on the grounds of the current Pope John Paul II Senior Elementary School.
“We’re here with heavy hearts — it’s a stark reminder of our most precious kids that we have lost,” says Fort William Chief Peter Collins during the Sacred Fire lighting ceremony. “[Former] Prime Minister Stephen Harper, when he apologized to us, he did not do enough and they still do not do enough to finding all the kids that were lost.”
Chief Collins acknowledged the organizers for putting up 215 pairs of shoes on the schoolyard fence to recognize the children who were lost in Kamloops.
“It’s nice to see all the young ones out here today enjoying themselves,” Chief Collins says. “That’s the things that those kids in the residential schools missed, enjoying themselves, being themselves, being a part of nature, being a part of the land, being a part of our society. We have to continue to support them and give them healthy lifestyles.”
Chief Collins also acknowledged Thunder Bay Mayor Bill Mauro for lowering the flags to half-mast at City Hall from May 31-June 8. The city lowered the flags for one hour for each child whose life was lost, and in memory of the thousands of children sent to residential schools, those who never returned and in honour of the families whose lives were forever changed.
“It’s important to remember the young ones that perished in that residential school without any accountability for them, without anybody knowing where they exactly were,” Chief Collins says. “That’s a strong message we need to send to this country, that somebody needs to be held accountable for the loss of these young ones.”
Chief Collins was pleased to see the “good turnout” at the Sacred Fire lighting ceremony.
“I’m glad to see such a great number of folks from different walks of life here today,” he says. “It’s a strong reminder that we are all a nation and if we stand united, we’ll be great.”
Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, who previously announced he was running for National Chief, says the discovery of the 215 children has “touched so many lives” around the world.
“I know there are a lot of inquiries being made from other countries and the leadership in Kamloops are getting overwhelmed with the requests for them to comment to other media outlets from around the world,” Grand Chief Fiddler says. “So it’s not just impacting Indigenous people in the country, I think it’s having a profound impact on everyone right around the world.”
Red Rock Indian Band’s Ron Kanutski brought out his family’s Eagle Staff to the Sacred Fire lighting ceremony to acknowledge the loss of the 215 children.
“I wanted the strength of all my family members to be here, including my grandparents Marie and Edward Wawia who have passed on — I wanted them to be here to be part of this mourning,” Kanutski says. “I’m really happy that a large number of people came for this event and I’m hoping the majority of Canada understands how important this is, that we acknowledge the lives that were covered up. I’m hoping this is going to be the beginning of healing at the next level instead of covering things up and minimizing things.”