Vancouver Catholic school founded by nuns who ran Kamloops residential school promises change
Former students of Little Flower Academy are demanding that the Catholic school revise its curriculum to include thorough lessons around residential schools and the trauma inflicted on Indigenous peoples.
The all-girls school on Vancouver’s West Side was established in 1927 by the Sisters of St. Ann, an order of Roman Catholic nuns. It’s the same order of nuns that staffed the Kamloops Indian Residential School where the bodies of 215 Indigenous children were found in unmarked graves last month.
Dozens of alumnae gathered in front of LFA Friday morning to pay tribute to the children in Kamloops.
“I don’t think any of us here who are not Indigenous can even begin to comprehend the sorrow and the pain that the people are going through,” said Abigail Balisky, co-organizer of the memorial.
Former students lit candles and placed flowers and teddy bears on the front steps, as school administrators looked on. Several alumnae addressed the crowd, expressing grief and anger.
“I hope you open your ears and truly listen,” one student said to school staff.
The alumnae said during their time at LFA, they were not taught about the Catholic Church’s involvement in residential schools and the suffering it caused Indigenous children and families.
“There is deep distress in our community about our connection to this tragedy,” said Diane Little, the school’s principal.
Little said the school stands in solidarity with its alumnae and will answer the call to revise the curriculum.
“We need to have the courage to talk about things that make us uncomfortable, and for which we feel shame.”
School administrators have engaged with several Indigenous communities and a cultural anthropologist to determine the best path forward.
“We are grateful for any advice, any conversation that they are willing to have with us,” Little said.
The school plans to acknowledge the role played by the Sisters of St. Ann when teaching about residential schools, and has begun developing a cross-curricular plan for an authentic approach to teaching about historical and contemporary injustice and the impacts of colonization. The curriculum will also include first-hand accounts from residential school survivors.
Alumnae are also calling for a formal apology from the Sisters of St. Ann. While LFA was founded by that order of nuns, it’s been operating independently since the early 1990s. As a result, school administrators said they’re not in a position to say sorry.
“The apology, in order to be authentic and sincere, would have to come from the people that ran the residential schools. I cannot speak on behalf of the Sisters or the Catholic Church,” Little explained.
The Sisters of St. Ann did issue an apology in 2014, but because it did not make reference to Indigenous children dying in the order’s care, alumnae say the apology didn’t go far enough.
If you are a former residential school student in distress, or have been affected by the residential school system and need help, you can contact the 24-hour Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419
Additional mental-health support and resources for Indigenous people are available here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.