'The world has to know what happened,' residential school survivor says of reopening old wounds
When a First Nation in British Columbia announced one year ago that it believed a search had uncovered the graves of children, it was difficult and painful for survivors of Canada's residential schools to have those metaphorical old wounds reopened. But that pain is necessary, one woman says.
"I always say the truth has to be heard," said Evelyn Camille, who spent 10 years at the Kamloops Indian Residential School prior to its closure in the late 1970s.
"We have to bring it out, as much as it hurts us. The world has to know what happened."
Camille was one of thousands of students who stayed at the 500-student-capacity facility, which first opened in the late 1800s.
She spoke to CTV News Monday at a ceremony in Kamloops meant to honour those who attended the school and survived years of abuse, and those who never made it back home.
Monday marked the one-year anniversary of an announcement from the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation that evidence collected by ground-penetrating radar suggested as many as 215 children were buried in unmarked graves in an area that once held the school's apple orchard.
Scientists involved in the investigation, which is ongoing, say GPR uncovered about 200 "targets of interest" in an area of the school grounds. They say the only way to confirm how many children are buried in the spot is excavation and forensic analysis.
Right now the investigation is focused on the search of the rest of the school grounds, but the location of the targets – near where a child's rib bone and a tooth had been found – match the stories of survivors who remember being woken up at night and brought to the area to dig graves.
"We had stressed over and over, 'There are children missing. What about them? What about their people?'" Camille said.
She didn't speak in depth about her own experience Monday, but said prior to the announcement last year, she'd put it all aside and moved on.
"Something like this comes along and it opens up those wounds again," she said.
As difficult as it's been, she said it's important that the truth is made public.
"I have been getting a lot of calls from all over the world," Camille said.
"We can't keep hiding it. The children and future generations have to know. The world has to know so that it will never, ever, ever happen again."
News of the suspected graves not only made headlines, but prompted similar searches at the sites of other Canadian residential schools. It also prompted the release of documents from church and government officials, some of which were previously said to be non-existent.
And it led to something Indigenous leaders have been calling for for decades: an apology from the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis issued an apology earlier this year, and promised to visit some First Nations in Canada this summer.
But notably absent from the Pope's itinerary is a stop in Kamloops, despite invitations from the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc.
In fact, so far it doesn't appear he'll be visiting B.C. at all.
While some, including the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, called it disappointing and asked the Holy See to change the trip's agenda, Camille said she feels differently.
"I don't want to see him anyhow," she said.
"What the hell is he going to – oh sorry. What is he going to do? Give me back my 10 years I spent there? No."
Camille works as an elder in her local school, saying the job gives her the opportunity to keep her culture, language, traditions and ceremonies alive.
"I keep telling the children that are there how important it is. It is our identity. That is who we are," she said.
Camille said this work brings her joy and healing, and encourages her to find strength.
And she said sharing this, and the widespread knowledge of what is often referred to as a dark chapter in Canadian history, gives voice to those who lost their lives.
"Now the children themselves speak out. They are found, and they are speaking out. 'We are here.'"
With an interview from CTV News Vancouver's Ben Miljure in Kamloops, B.C.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.