Letter to the Editor: Gimaa Kwe Johanna Desmoulin to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Right Honorable Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister of Canada Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2
Fax: 613-941-6900

Ahnii Boozhoo Prime Minister Trudeau,

My Council and I wanted to add our voices to the many who are expressing our grief and outrage over the tragic discoveries concerning the children who died at the Kamloops Indian Residential School.

Prime Minister, like the People of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation, the People of the Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg were deeply impacted by Canada’s residential school system. Every day, we witness and seek to support those who struggle with the multi-generational impacts of Canada’s and the church’s despicable treatment of our children, our families, our language, culture and identity. In this time of great hope and opportunity, our people continue to struggle to find the strength and well-being to live their lives and become the beautiful individuals and families that Creator intended for them. Like the news of this past week, it’s simply heartbreaking to witness. Prime Minister, the time for a commitment to true reconciliation by you, the Government and all Canadians, has never been more present.

We commend you for calling on your Government and all others who were complicit in the conscious efforts to eradicate our people, families, culture and children, to come forward and be accountable for their role and acts. It is time, however, that your government call the residential school system what it was – an act of genocide against the Indigenous people of Turtle Island.

As an immediate measure, Prime Minister, we join the many voices who are calling on you to
establish a national day of mourning for the children who died at the hands and in the care of
the Kamloops Indian Residential School. This will be a solemn but important time for all
Canadians to acknowledge the destruction that was enacted on our people, and to be reminded
that the process of healing is only beginning.

And then Prime Minister, you need to lead Canadians and their leaders to work with our leaders
and people on a real path to reconciliation and healing, that includes, among other things, an
explicit acknowledgement of the racist colonial thinking and standards that are alive and well
within government, business and the broader population, and a commitment to finally reveal
and eradicate these.

There are many difficult discoveries and discussions that lie ahead in the coming weeks. This is
your opportunity to prove to us that you understand and that you are committed to righting the
wrongs of the past. We are counting on you. This is your defining moment with the Indigenous
people of this land.

Miigwetch and may Creator guide and support you through this monumental responsibility and
opportunity for healing and recovery.

Gimaa Kwe Johanna Desmoulin
Netmizaaggamig Nishnaabeg

Cc: Band Membership
National Chief Perry Bellegarde
Ontario Regional Chief RoseAnne Archibald
Grand Council Chief Reginald Niganobe
Michael Mantha, MPP
Carol Hughes, MP