Staff photo Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations. Prior to COVID
Rat Portage First Nation near Kenora is getting nearly $2.9 million to locate and commemorate their missing children.
The money comes from the federal and provincial governments and will be spread out over three years. (Federal: $2,498,430 Ontario: $400,000 for over two years)
Earlier this week, the federal government committed $83 million towards locating and the confirmation of burial sites near residential schools.
The money will assist the community to carry out work related to identify burial sites related to St. Mary’s Indian Residential School.
Funding will support local research, engagement, knowledge gathering, memorialization and commemoration.
The First Nation has been guided by Survivors and families and will be working with the many families and communities affected by this former residential school.
Ontario Minister of Indigenous Affairs Greg Rickford says, “We owe it to the countless lost children, Survivors, families and community members impacted by the harms inflicted by the Indian residential school system to spare no effort in continuing to uncover the truth. Ontario commends the leaders of Wauzhushk Onigum Nation’s residential school Survivor project for undertaking this painful, difficult work and is committed to providing whatever types of additional support may be necessary to see it through to completion.”
One Elder and Survivor of the St. Mary’s Indian Residential School in a statement said, “This project is going to be led by Survivors, their memories, their stories, their individual and collective healing. For decades we have suffered in silence, and some of us still might not want to share. Before reconciliation must come truth. And it is time to uncover the truth. It is time to share with the rest of Canada what happened at these schools, and how it affected us, our parents, our grandparents, our children, and our future generations to come. It is time to honour the children, honour their memories, and make sure this never happens again under any colonial law or policy whatsoever.”
