Unmarked graves discovered at former Catholic boarding school

A First Nations group in Saskatchewan has revealed that the remains of hundreds of people, mostly children, were discovered at the site of a former Catholic boarding school in the province.

Irrefutable evidence of horrific abuse of generations of indigenous people in Canada is, once again, under the spotlight.

Canada graves

A Canadian First Nations group in Saskatchewan province has revealed that the remains of hundreds of people were discovered at the site of a former Catholic boarding school.

Local indigenous leaders want an inquiry into what they call genocide. The First Nations group said that the church that ran the residential school had removed the headstones.

The tragic news came just weeks after the discovery of the remains of over 200 indigenous children at another Roman Catholic Church run boarding school rattled the country.

Discovery of children's remains at school site reopens wounds for indigenous survivors

The discovery of the remains of 215 children at a former residential school in Canada has reopened wounds among indigenous survivors of colonial Canadian schools.

Assimilation or annihilation

The latest finds have reopened old wounds in Canada regarding the notorious residential schools, mostly operated by the Roman Catholic Church for the Government of Canada during the 19th and 20th centuries.

In all 130 boarding schools forcibly separated more than 150,000 indigenous children from their families.

The program was aimed at assimilating indigenous youth, but the school subjected them to malnutrition and physical as well as sexual abuse.

Two more churches razed in ‘suspicious’ fires in Canada’s indigenous areas; Trudeau urges Pope to apologize

Two more Catholic churches have been set ablaze in indigenous communities in western Canada.

An estimated 6000 1st nation children died while attending these schools. Under mounting pressure, the Canadian government formally apologized for the system in 2008.

The Holy See refuses to see

However, despite growing calls the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church have refused to apologize.

They're abrogating the responsibility ...by admitting their crimes they are admitting that they are not following their own teachings. The crimes that they committed are so horrific and children were beaten for simply speaking their own languages.

Henry Evans-Tenbrinke, Human Rights Activist

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday that he was terribly saddened by the new discovery.

He said the trauma that indigenous people feel is Canada's responsibility to bear, but has Ottawa really learned a lesson, and is it serious about alleviating the plight of the First Nations?

Canada school deaths: Indigenous leaders dismayed at Pope’s lack of apology

Indigenous leaders in Canada dismiss Pope Francis’ expression of sorrow—and not an apology—for the discovery of the remains of 215 children at a former Catholic school.

Canada is ranked among the world's seven largest advanced economies.

The modern country with one of the highest GDP in the world has long been a popular destination for millions of immigrants from across the globe, seeking jobs, and a better life.

While Canada may sound like a dream world to many, it is far from a utopia for its own indigenous population.

Canada's 1.7 million indigenous citizens, nearly 5% of the population, mostly live in isolated communities where poverty, high unemployment and high risk of suicide are chronic problems.

Catholic Church ignoring role in 'heinous crimes' against indigenous Canadians

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has criticized the Catholic Church for ignoring its role in running many indigenous residential schools in the country following the recent discovery of the remains of more than 200 children at one former school.

There are psychological problems that have been passed down from generation to generation. Fathers who were in the generation in the residential schools and mothers (who) suffered severe psychological problems because of the treatment they received and that's just been passed down from generation to generation. And it's going to take years to correct that.

Henry Evans-Tenbrinke, Human Rights Activist

They have long complained that they are not getting a fair share of the income from resources on their ancestral lands.

Meanwhile aboriginal women have been subjected to deadly violence for many years.

A national public inquiry concluded a few years ago that about 1200 aboriginal women have been murdered or gone missing in Canada since 1980 with activists putting the number much higher.

Canada's Indigenous communities remain under boil-water advisories amid Covid-19

Canada

Human rights groups have repeatedly raised the alarm about the situation of Canada's indigenous population.

Canada says it is ashamed of the systemic racism, discrimination and injustice that Indigenous peoples have faced.

In 2017 the Canadian government acknowledged the humiliation, neglect and abuse of the First Nations and pledged to improve their lives.

But first nations are still struggling with a long list of problems, and are fighting an uphill battle for their rights.

Iran, China, Russia, others urge probe into case of indigenous mass grave in Canada

Iran, China, Russia, and several other countries call for an independent probe into the case of a mass grave that was discovered at the site of a boarding school in Canada last month and that contained the remains of more than 200 indigenous children.

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