Walpole Island First Nation continues to mourn for the residential school students who did not return home.
“We are saddened by the reminder of a dark period in our history, brought back to light by the news from the Kamloops and Marieval residential schools,” Walpole Island First Nation officials posted on social media on Friday, June 25, 2021.
“Out of respect of residential school students and the survivors of Walpole Island First Nation, Chief Charles Sampson has declared that Walpole Island First Nation will not be observing Canada Day this year, and instead will close our First Nation operations on July 2 as a Day of Mourning.
Chief Sampson said the abuse and mistreatment that took place at residential schools “was meant to eliminate us
as a people.
“While it did not accomplish that, it has harmed our families and our community in incalculable ways. The presence of unmarked graves has been known to us through oral history, even as the mainstream considers this a “discovery.” This is but one manifestation of the horrendous conditions that our elders and ancestors faced,” Chief Sampson stated in a press release.
Walpole Island Council has committed to meet with survivors and develop a plan to address the wounds that exist in the community resulting from the residential school legacy, Walpole Island officials stated.
Walpole Island members attended various residential schools, including Mohawk, Mount Elgin, Spanish, Mount Pleasant, Shingwauk, and Carlyle.
In 2002, survivors erected a Residential School Memorial Monument with names of approximately 400 survivors etched in granite, Walpole Island officials added.
