Uncovering the truth about the origins of America’s Indigenous People | REMAINS

 

The DNA of ancient human remains in the United States may hold the answers to some of the most hotly debated questions in North American history. Danish professor Eske Willerslev has spent more than 10 years travelling around the US to study DNA data and what it can tell us about early humans. His encounters with Indigenous tribes, who are today fighting to have the remains of their ancestors reburied, forces Willerslev to reconsider his own position and possible biases in his interpretation of the ambiguous data. His objective ideals as a scientist are put to the test as he is confronted with ethical and personal dilemmas. Remains is a documentary film by Linus Mork.

‘Give us the records’: New head of NCTR says VATICAN needs to hand over school documents

 VIDEO

archive photo TRC

The confirmation of unmarked graves at the sites of former residential schools has led to a global awakening on the effects of the harmful policy says the executive director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR.)

Stephanie Scott, who has been with the NCTR since 2016, had only been in her new leadership position for a little over two months when 215 remains were located in unmarked graves on the former site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School.

Scott remembers being in bed when the texts started rolling in about the news. Despite being aware of the existence of the graves, “it was still horrendous news to get.”

The NCTR will not be part of a delegation heading to the Vatican to meet with Pope Francis – but if she was going her message would be “give us the records.” The Catholic church ran 65 residential schools.

She says negotiations with the church for over one thousand boxes of documents have been going on for years. The NCTR has been given access to five of those boxes.

As for the apology by the Pope, on Canadian soil, Scott says it would be wonderful to see the Pope “in a pipe ceremony, acknowledging our  peoples and cultures and the harms that took place and really understanding what they tried to destroy and how important that is for our people to continue on the path of reconciliation.” SOURCE

 

Read More: 

‘We are not going to forget that history’: Kukpi7 says there is much work to do at former Kamloops school 

Kamloops: Stories of Survival 

 

 

Brace Yourself for More Graves | Every Child Matters | #60sScoop

 

Splatsin Chief Wayne Christian and Tina William lead the Every Child Matters March in Enderby on June 21. (Lyndsey Leon photo)

Kukpi7 Wayne Christian says more grisly discoveries to come; seek support

• Caitlin Clow
• Jun. 25, 2021 

Brace yourself, says Splatsin and Secwépemc Tribal Chief Wayne Christian.

In the wake of the grisly discoveries of 215-plus unmarked graves in Kamloops and another 751 in Saskatchewan, the ’60s Scoop survivor said it’s important for the public — both Indigenous and non-Indigenous — to be prepared for more discoveries.

“It’s such a shock and I feel so horrific for all of us,” Christian said.

“For those of you who attended the residential schools or were connected to it in some way, I want to ask you to think about the support you may need,” he said. “If you didn’t attend a residential school yourself, I want you to reach out to people in your community who did attend or might be impacted by it, and check-in with them.”

Christian said people can support each other by learning Canada’s history and listening to survivors’ stories.

“A lot of people still won’t talk about the horrors that took place in these so-called schools,” he said. “A lot of people will not believe that there are unmarked burials at these sites. There are many, many stories that our people heard and knew – these recent discoveries confirm what our oral histories taught us.”

He also said this a non-partisan issue. 

Splatsin has released a presentation on the Splatsin.ca website for members of the public interested in learning more about Secwépemc history and the residential school system.

KEEP READING

Quebec government, Catholic oblates still haven't delivered key residential school records #TRC

 

As First Nations in Quebec plan possible searches of former residential school sites, documents that could help that process have still not been turned over by the Quebec government and the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

"Recent events have definitely given some urgency to the situation," he said, adding the oblates seem willing to work on releasing more records and that a meeting has already been set up.

• Sask. First Nation announces hundreds of unmarked graves found at former residential school site

"I expect there will be some movement on this very shortly."

WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT: Quebec government, Catholic oblates still haven't delivered key residential school records | CBC News

The central repository of oblate records on Quebec's residential schools is the Archives Deschâtelets in Richelieu, about 35 kilometres east of Montreal.

Students and staff of the Fort George Roman Catholic Indian Residential School, Fort George Que., Aug. 8, 1948. (National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation / Deschatelets-NDC Archives )

Cut to the Chase: 215