Source: Save The Children
After the discovery of some 750 unmarked graves at the site of a former residential school for indigenous children in Canada, Save the Children released the below statement.
Danny Wainwright, CEO of Save the Children in Canada:
“We are deeply saddened and angered by the discovery of some 750 graves of indigenous children – this is a tragedy that never should have happened. And it never would have happened, in a truly equal society.”
“The abuse, neglect, trauma and death suffered by thousands and thousands of indigenous children in Canada is nothing short of cultural genocide – and deeply engraved into the souls of indigenous communities until this very day.”
“Canada cannot stop looking until all graves of missing children are uncovered, and all families know what happened to their loved ones. Indigenous communities deserve justice, and we stand with them in support and to ensure the government is held to account for decades of failing residential school survivors and their families.”
“We call on the government of Canada to prioritize implementation of all calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, including investigating all former residential school grounds across the country to find the remains of missing children. In addition, the child welfare system needs to be reformed urgently, so inequalities that still very much haunt and hurt indigenous children today are being addressed. Also, the Indigenous and colonial history must be included into school curricula fairly and transparently.”
Save the Children has supported several organisations who are working with and for indigenous communities – the organisations provide (crisis) support for former students of residential schools through counselling, education prevention and interventions.
Inger Ashing, CEO of Save the Children International, said:
“The discovery of almost 1,000 unmarked graves at two residential schools for indigenous children this month is heart-breaking, with this inhuman treatment of children ripping apart future generations. The latest discoveries underscore the cruelty of the residential school system in Canada, but also in other countries.”
“At Save the Children we want all children protected from abuse, neglect and exploitation and we are committed to tackling head-on any institutional racism or discrimination that targets indigenous children. The inter-generational damage from this bleak period cannot be underestimated and at Save the Children we are committed to increasing awareness and action of indigenous child rights.”
