Discussion of Final October 2024 Interlocutor’s Report on the Missing and Disappeared Indigenous Children and Unmarked Burials in Canada
Donna McGreal, Ally to Indigenous Peoples, Combined B.A. English/Cultural Studies and Indigenous Studies; Indigenous Justice Issues Lead, Concerned Lay Catholics in Canada; Lead Facilitator, Catholic Diocese of Hamilton: Listening to Indigenous Voices: A Dialogue on Justice and Right Relations.
October 2024: Reflection on Indigenous Justice Issues October: Discussion of Final October 2024 Interlocutor’s Report on the Missing and Disappeared Indigenous Children and Unmarked Burials in Canada
Dear Friends:
In the May 2024 CLC newsletter, we marked a day of reflection on the third anniversary of the discovery of unmarked graves in Kamloops, B.C. We acknowledged that May 2021 was a rallying call around the world that resulted in a cross-Canada annual campaign, “Every Child Matters.” The discovery also reinforced that the truth must be recognized and that each grave represents a child who was torn away from their community and is still mourned. In June 2021, Chief Cadmus Delorme, Cowessess First Nation said, all we ask of all of you listening is that you stand by us as we heal and get stronger. We all must put down our ignorance and accidental racism of not addressing the truth that this country has with Indigenous people. We are not asking for pity, but we are asking for understanding.
Today, October 29, 2024, Kimberley Murray, the Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites, released her final report that included an Indigenous-led Framework for 42 Reparations at the National Gathering on Unmarked Burials. Murray, appointed by the Federal government in 2022, worked closely and collaboratively with Indigenous leaders, communities, survivors, families and experts to identify needed measures and recommend a new federal legal framework to ensure the respectful and culturally appropriate treatment and protection of unmarked graves and burial sites of children at former residential schools. At that time, she said, “While it may be tempting for Canadians to believe a mythical and idealized version of national history, denying the painful truths of Survivors and of the missing and disappeared children is a barrier to advancing reconciliation. A mature and healthy democracy is strengthened by its willingness and ability to confront the political, legal, and moral failures of its own past and change accordingly.”
I encourage you to connect to the link for the Final October 2024 Report: Office of the Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites associated with Indian Residential Schools https://osi-bis.ca/. In particular, the Executive Summary is where substantial and workable reparations, some of which involve the churches, are listed.
As Catholics, we must turn to Pope Francis’ encyclicals, and especially Fratelli Tutti as our guide to living in harmony with all peoples of the world. Let’s re-read this important document to refresh our understanding of our responsibilities to the Indigenous Peoples living on this land we call Canada. https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20201003_enciclica-fratelli-tutti.html
Indigenous Peoples in Canada deserve equal rights to those we enjoy, and these values and principles stand at the centre of our conscience to unlock those rights by listening and understanding. The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights for Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) is a strong advocacy position in which non-Indigenous peoples may become allies.
Although legislation was given royal assent by the Federal government, it still sits in limbo while an implementation plan has been under scrutiny since 2023 with an end date of 2028. https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/declaration/ap-pa/index.html. A personal letter to your MP would be a start to advocate for its early completion and to ask for a revised Indian Act plan based on those rights and in consultation with Indigenous Peoples.
Denialism:
One welcome reparation is that the Report is asking that denialism be considered a Criminal Act since it reconstructs the trauma already experienced throughout the Indigenous population. This is already before the Legislature. There are other reparations listed in the Report but today while I was listening to the webinar reports, one speaker said that genocide changes a country. To hear this about your beloved country has created an identity crisis in Canada among many non-Indigenous people. However, in appreciation to the courageous leadership of survivors and their supporters, we now have an opportunity and the tools in this Report to accept what happened and to encourage reconciliation through our own education of the issues. We must come to understand that our Nation was built through harming thousands of children and their families, and as settlers we have benefited over many years at their expense.
Education, beyond a surface level, is key because denialism can be alluring when you operate from a minimal amount of education on the issues. Confidence in conversations with others increases when you know the truth. After all, Senator Murray Sinclair told us that education got us into this mess and education will get us out. So true…. This is “heart” work that will nurture survivors and future generations – it’s about keeping them safe and making them feel they are in a safe space. It is a responsibility, as people of faith, that we cannot ignore.
In faith & hope,
Donna
References:
Government of Canada. (2023). United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Action Plan 2023 – 2028. https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/declaration/ap-pa/index.html
Murray, Kimberley. (2024). Interlocutor’s Report on the Missing and Disappeared Indigenous Children and Unmarked Burials in Canada. https://osi-bis.ca/
Pope Francis. (2020). Encyclical Letter Fratelli Tutti of the Holy Father Francis on Fraternity and Social Friendship.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission Final Report. (2016). Report Missing Children and Unmarked Burials & Calls to Action. https://nctr.ca/records/reports/