NAN Offers Condolences as Remains Discovered at Saskatchewan Residential School Site

THUNDER BAY, ON: Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Acting Grand Chief Walter Naveau, on behalf of the Executive Council, expresses heartfelt condolences following the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at the site of the former Marieval Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan:

“On this sad day we send love and prayers to the families of these innocent youth, Chief Cadmus Delorme, and the entire Cowessess community. I thank them for their perseverance and determination to identify the final resting places of their beloved children.

The years of trauma and abuse through the IRS system were caused by federal policies and the church and continues to be felt to this day. Canada and the church must act on their responsibility to help our people heal. We must have meaningful engagement with our federal Treaty partner and the Catholic Church with a strong, honest commitment to work together in a good way. Our children were taken away from us and we need to bring them home.

It is difficult to come to grips with the magnitude of these tragedies – all of the children who never made it home from the Residential Schools, and only many years later are finally being found. But the outpouring of emotion from First Nations and Canadians from coast to coast shows how truth and understanding can help bring us together and unite as a country.

This is an opportunity for Canada to act like the great nation it claims to be by helping the children, mothers, fathers, the kokums and mushums. We know there will be more news like this, and we must be prepared to face the truth together. I urge the Prime Minister, his ministers, and all Canadians to walk the Good Red Road with us.”

The discovery near Cowessess follows the May 2021 discovery of the final resting places of 215 children at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, which sparked national calls for the proper identification of all youth who never made it home from Residential Schools.

IRS Survivors, their families, and anyone requiring emotional support or assistance can contact:

• IRS Survivors Society at 1-800-721-0066 (toll-free)
• IRS Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419
• NAN Hope 1-844-NAN-HOPE (626-4673)

For more information please contact:
Michael Heintzman,
Director of Communications
Cell: (807) 621-2790
mheintzman@nan.ca