BRINGING HOME OUR CHILDREN – SPANISH SCHOOLS INQUIRY AND TRUTH COMMISSION

The Nisoonag Partnership (representing Serpent River First Nation, Sagamok First Nation, and Mississauga First Nation) is initiating the process of searching and uncovering the truth about the Spanish Schools. This investigation will come from a multi-year Indigenous-led process that ensures survivors' needs are met, and we find answers about the children who attended the former schools but never made it home. “Its time to bring accountability to the forefront. Our Survivors, our people, our Children have suffered enough. We can’t continue to ignore the horrifying history in our colonial history in Canada. Its time to give our Children a voice. Its time to amplify the voice of our Survivors. Its time for truth, for the entire truth” said Chief Brent Bissaillion, Chief of Serpent River First Nation.

The Spanish Residential Schools operated from 1913 - 1965; run by Jesuit Fathers, Daughters of the Heart of Mary, and the Government of Canada. The boys and girls at Spanish formed the largest Indian Residential School in Ontario owned by the Catholic Church. Between 1911 and 1945, the boys’ school was named St. Peter Claver from 1913 to 1930, and it was renamed St. Charles Garnier from 1930 to 1958. It was the only Indian Residential school operated by the Jesuits Order in Canada.

Generations of Indigenous children from Manitoba, northern Ontario, and Quebec were relocated to the Spanish Schools, and Oral stories told by Spanish School Survivors include stories about children who disappeared. Reflecting on funding commitments made by Canada and Ontario to initiate the work, Chief Bob Chiblow, Chief of Mississauga First Nation expressed what it means to him, “I can’t imagine the void created for so many families and communities during this time, I hope this project can provide some closure and comfort to all affected families.”

The work will be conducted over the next two to three years and will entail establishing protocols for searches and remains for the Spanish Schools, archival research and assessments of records associated with the two schools, finding unmarked graves, and memorializing this difficult journey for our Survivors. We will be guided and sustained by our culture and customs. Many ceremonies have already taken place on the ground, and many more will occur. We also recognize that this journey will cause much pain as stories long pushed away return to the surface. We will establish several mental health supports for our families so they may undertake this journey safely with cultural, spiritual, customary, and religious supports.

The Partnership has received $699,574.00 from CIRNAC for 2021-2022 with the understanding that this is an initial amount only, and a commitment to continuing the conversation regarding the work for fiscal years 2022 to 2024. Ontario has committed to IRS-specific funding in the amount of $900,000.000 for 2021- 2024. This includes $200,000.00 in IRS funding and $200,000 in mental health and addictions funding in 2021-2022 and $250,000.00 in IRS funding in both 2022- 2023 and 2023-2024.

Chief Alan Ozawanimke shared his experience from ceremony with the children that “They had stated our Truth loud and clear to the world at a time when it was sitting idle” Their ultimate sacrifice was the result of the attempt to take away our customs, traditions, language and ceremonies to separate us from our Spirit. It never happened. He further states that those responsible must accept that responsibility; It is also our responsibility as descendants to honour the Spirits of the children to pick up and learn what was intended to be taken away from us. We must honour their ultimate sacrifice.

Our Elders and Survivors have for a long time told us about the Children who went missing. We are here to listen. And we hope the rest of Canada will do too.

“Ontario is honoured to be supporting the Nisoonag Partnership with burial investigations at the former Spanish Residential Schools. The atrocities that took place at these schools inflicted immeasurable and ongoing trauma and suffering on generations of families from Serpent River First Nation, Sagamok First Nation and Mississauga First Nation. Our government is also investing in culturally appropriate, trauma-informed supports for affected Survivors and families as this critical, painful work is undertaken.”

The Honourable Greg Rickford Ontario Minister of Indigenous Affairs

“Our hearts go out to Serpent River, Sagamok, and Mississauga First Nations - as well as all the other communities - who had children sent to the Spanish Residential Schools, as they plan these crucial efforts to locate and commemorate them. We will keep addressing past wrongs and the ongoing painful legacy of Residential Schools, as the communities work towards finding the truth, healing and closure.” The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations

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