When not every child mattered
BY KIM LANGEN
There was a time when not every child mattered.
The discovery of the unmarked graves of 215 unidentified children, buried on the grounds of the Kamloops Indian Residential School in the B.C. interior, has led to a stunned awareness of this shameful historical fact.
Terry Beazley, principal of Killarney School, said that picturing a time when young lives could be considered so inconsequential is hard for the youth of today to comprehend.
“The undocumented, unmarked mass grave of children as young as three is just the latest reminder of the unimaginable tragedy of residential schools,” he said in a letter sent to parents and guardians last Monday. “The intentional policy of cultural genocide against Indigenous peoples is our national shame.”
Since the horrific announcement, Killarney School, like many others across the country, has been marking the tragic news with deeds, artwork, discussion, and compassion.
“Some of the students have been tracing footsteps, a few classes have done some artwork, which is on the walls, while others are embracing still more themes,” said Beazley. “Our school flag has been lowered, and will be at half mast for nine days, which is 216 hours. That’s one hour for each child’s body found, plus one for the countless others as yet undiscovered.”
The base of the school’s flagpole has now been deemed a memorial site during these days of memory, and people who wish to can lay down small shoes, teddy bears, personal notes, and messages at this site.
But the principal added, during a phone interview on Tuesday, that the repercussions of these newly reported and tragic events of the last century cannot be limited to their timeline.
“I’d like to stress that this isn’t a 100-year-old situation,” said Beazley. “This is still a very real issue, in that it still permeates today into the families and descendants of these residential schoolchildren. The discovery of the bodies in Kamloops re-opens many old wounds for a great number of people.”
Residential Schools were still in operation until the mid-‘90s, he added, with the last one finally closing its doors as late as 1996.
The last day that the school flag is reduced to half-mast will fall on Tuesday, June 8. And on that day students are invited to don orange shirts, as a way to remember the children of the Kamloops Residential School, and their families.
“It’s more than an orange shirt day,” said Beazley. “Of course these are nice gestures, but it requires more for us to get to a better place. People are wearing shirts saying, ‘Every Child Matters.’ But for a long time, not every child did matter. As individuals, a community, a province, and a country, we can, and must, do better.”
ORANGE SHIRT DAY – Staff and students from Killarney School gathered for a group photo taken from the school’s roof on Tuesday morning. Orange Shirt Day has taken on new meaning this year at the school, and across the country, with the recent discovery of 215 Indigenous children buried in unmarked graves at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. Read on to learn more about Killarney School’s tributes to the Residential School victims.
EVERY CHILD MATTERS – Kindergarten to Grade 2 students at Killarney School gathered for a group picture on Monday afternoon, May 31, in front of a tribute in chalk they created for the 215 children whose remains were discovered in unmarked graves on the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. Guidance counsellor David Riley came up with the idea of tracing the younger students’ feet as a way of showing the number of children that did not return home. “We have been doing small activities all week to explain residential schools to the students by watching videos and reading stories,” said teacher Kayla Taylor. “The students are getting a chance to discuss and ask questions about residential schools in a safe environment.” She added that the kids would also be making dream catchers to hang in the trees by the school’s flag memorial site today.
JAY STRUTH/KILLARNEY GUIDE PHOTOS
TRACING A TRIBUTE – K-2 students trace their footprints on the sidewalk in front of Killarney School in tribute to the 215 children discovered in unmarked graves on the grounds of a former residential school in B.C. Keep scrolling to see more photos from the school and to learn more about National Indigenous Peoples Day.
KAYLA TAYLOR/PHOTO
FLAG MEMORIAL – The base of Killarney School’s flagpole has now been deemed a memorial site, and people who wish to can lay down small shoes, teddy bears, personal notes, and messages there.
HANDS ON LEARNING – Teacher Alison McGill and her art students came up with the idea of enhancing the memorial with handprints, along with painting the message, “Every Child Matters.” Some of the school’s younger students will be making dream catchers and hanging them in the trees around the memorial site today.
TEDDY BEAR AND TEARS – A Killarney School band plays in the background behind the school’s flag, which will fly at half-mast until Tuesday, June 8. The base of the flag has been increasingly encircled this week with teddy bears, small shoes, and other tributes to commemorate and remember the lost lives of children who died during their residency at the Kamloops Indian Residential School. Read on to learn more about National Indigenous Peoples Day.
JAY STRUTH/KILLARNEY GUIDE PHOTOS
What is National Indigenous Peoples Day?
According to the Government of Canada website, Canada.ca, Monday, June 21, is National Indigenous Peoples Day.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the event, which coincides each year with the Summer Solstice on June 21. June is also a month in which many First Nations cultures hold ceremonies, such as the Sundance Ceremony, feasts, and festivals.
“This is a day for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures, and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples,” says the website. “The Canadian Constitution recognizes these three groups as Aboriginal peoples, also known as Indigenous peoples. Although these groups share many similarities, they each have their own distinct heritage, language, cultural practices, and spiritual beliefs.”
In cooperation with Indigenous organizations, the Government of Canada chose June 21, the summer solstice, for National Aboriginal Day, now known as National Indigenous Peoples Day, they said.
For generations, many Indigenous peoples and communities have celebrated their culture and heritage on or near this day due to the significance of the summer solstice as the longest day of the year.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 restrictions will likely halt gatherings of friends and families, but it may still be a time of inward recognition and thought for all Canadians. And a chance to explore history virtually, according to the Canada.ca website.
‘COVID-19: Update on celebrations:
Due to the seriousness of the COVID-19 crisis, the Government of Canada invites Canadians to celebrate this year’s National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day at home. Keep yourself, your family and your community safe by following instructions from health officials and other trusted, reliable sources.
You can learn more about the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples by reading a digital copy of one the books from the #IndigenousReads reading list, or by exploring a virtual exhibit at your favourite museum.’