Nisoonag Partnership to direct search at Spanish Residential School sites

Trigger warning: readers may be triggered by the recount of Indian Residential Schools. To access a 24-hour National Crisis Line, call: 1-866-925-4419. Community Assistance Program (CAP) can be accessed for citizens of the Anishinabek Nation: 1-800-663-1142.

By Leslie Knibbs

SPANISH — The Nisoonag (Three Canoes) Partnership is an alliance between Mississauga First Nation (MFN), Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation (SFN), and Serpent River First Nation (SRFN) formed to investigate the former Spanish Indian Residential School (IRS) site for unmarked children’s graves.

At a gathering in October last year, Chief Alan Ozawanimke told those gathered the group would apply for funding from both the province and the federal government to search the grounds at the former school sites.  It was recently announced that the funding has been acquired and plans are in place.

The three-member group has received $699,574 from Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) for 2021-2022 with the understanding that this is an initial amount only, and a commitment to continuing the conversation regarding the work for fiscal years 2022 to 2024. Ontario has committed to IRS-specific funding in the amount of $900,000 for 2021- 2024. This includes $200,000 in IRS funding and $200,000 in mental health and addictions funding in 2021-2022, and $250,000 in IRS funding 2022-2023 and 2023-2024.

In June, September, and October of last year, leadership and community members met for ceremony at the former Spanish Indian Residential School sites to reflect on the discoveries of unmarked graves of children at former Indian Residential Schools sites in Canada. At the September gathering, leaders and community members shared stories around a Sacred Fire.  Leaders gathered together in October for ceremony in a communal Sweat speaking with the children lost.

Recently, Chief Alan Ozawanimke of SFN spoke of his experience in the Sweat.

“The ceremony that was held in October was very difficult for me as the children showed me in the Lodge what they experienced. My experience was very short whereas they were there for years. I had to ask them for their help when I was going through the experience in the Lodge.  When I completed the ceremony, I was very emotional and questioned whether I had it in me to continue my responsibility to the community. I understand that the need to continue as it is what I was directed.  The Children had stated our Truth loud and clear at a time when the world was sitting idle. Their ultimate sacrifice was the result of the attempt to take away our customs, traditions, language, and ceremonies to separate us from our Spirit,” he expressed. “All those responsible must accept that responsibility; it is also our responsibility as descendants to honour the Survivors and Spirits of the Children to pick up and learn what was intended to be taken away from us. We must honour their ultimate sacrifice. It is within the language and ceremonies that our resilience and survival prevailed. Reconciliation is possible when we embark on our healing journey.”

Chief Brent Bissillion from SRFN is happy to see the three partners coming together in the search.

“Our communities are coming together in shared hope, to find the truth, and start a process of healing and understanding. Together, we will bring our children home, taking our time to ensure our Elders, Survivors, and communities are cared for. I am grateful to Sagamok Anishnawbek and Mississauga First Nation for sharing this responsibility. There is lots of work ahead, but we are committed to taking our time, ensuring no one is left behind and all voices are heard.”

Mississauga First Nation is hopeful the efforts made and findings of the group will bring closure to families.

“I’m hoping this work will help bring closure and fill the void many families and communities still feel today left by this time.”

According to a release from the Partnership, “The work will be conducted over the next two to three years and will entail establishing protocols for searches and remains for the Spanish Schools, archival research and assessments of records associated with the two schools, finding unmarked graves, and memorializing this difficult journey for our Survivors. We will be guided and sustained by our culture and customs. Many ceremonies have already taken place on the ground, and many more will occur. We also recognize that this journey will cause much pain as stories long pushed away return to the surface. We will establish several mental health supports for our families so they may undertake this journey safely with cultural, spiritual, customary, and religious supports.”

Indigenous artist and storyteller Isaac Murdoch from SRFN recently reflected on hearing the news of the upcoming search.

“There are many stories of Residential School children that were buried in secret in the trees or on islands near the Spanish Residential School site. Some of the old people seen this when they were young while looking out their windows and seeing it through the coal oil lamps of the gravediggers. They told me this many times. They also talked about the ovens in the basement.”

Murdoch believes it is necessary to also search the islands around the mouth of the Spanish River near the school sites.

In a release from the province, Ontario Minister of Indigenous Affairs Greg Rickford indicated that, “Ontario is honoured to be supporting the Nisoonag Partnership with burial investigations at the former Spanish Residential Schools. The atrocities that took place at these schools inflicted immeasurable and ongoing trauma and suffering on generations of families from Serpent River First Nation, Sagamok [Anishnawbek] First Nation, and Mississauga First Nation. Our government is also investing in culturally appropriate, trauma-informed supports for affected Survivors and families as this critical, painful work is undertaken.”

The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations in a public address said, “Our hearts go out to Serpent River, Sagamok, and Mississauga First Nations – as well as all the other communities – who had children sent to the Spanish Residential Schools, as they plan these crucial efforts to locate and commemorate them. We will keep addressing past wrongs and the ongoing painful legacy of Residential Schools, as the communities work towards finding the truth, healing, and closure.”