Elk Island Catholic Schools Reflect on Kamloops Residential School Tragedy

Elk Island Catholic Schools Reflect on Kamloops Residential School Tragedy

Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser

Staff and students in the Elk Island Catholic School Division, (EICS) learned about and reflected on the recent discovery of the unmarked graves of children who attended the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.

On May 31, EICS lowered all flags to half-mast as a sign of respect for the lost children and remained at half-mast for 215 hours, an hour for each child, until June 8.

Indigenous Education Consultant Crystal Cholin stated, “EICS as a district held a virtual reflection on this tragedy led by Elder Doreen Wabasca, Superintendent Shawn Haggarty, and myself on Tuesday, June 8. Students and staff from around the district joined in and afterward the flags around the district were raised.”

Elk Island Catholic Schools Reflect on Kamloops Residential School Tragedy 1-2.

(EICS/Submitted Photo)

Cholin added that when news broke of the tragedy, “Students and staff immediately demonstrated compassion and a desire to honour these children. Over the past several days, schools have been acknowledging the children in their own ways by creating heart gardens in and out of schools, designing chalk art with hearts and words of love and respect, wearing orange shirts in remembrance of the children, and learning words and prayers in Cree.”

Students at St. Martin’s Catholic School in Vegreville created a heart garden to pay tribute to those Indigenous children who lost their lives. Sidewalk chalk art and shoe memorial were just a couple of other projects completed by students from other schools throughout the division.

Superintendent Haggarty commented that, “All members of our division have a deep sense of sorrow for this loss of life and the time these children have lain undiscovered.

Acknowledging that many individuals and families have suffered, and continue to suffer, due to the damage caused by the residential school system, Haggarty reiterated the commitment of EICS to truth and reconciliation. Through education and partnerships with elders, knowledge keepers and community members, the school division will continue to enhance understanding of Indigenous perspectives, culture, and teachings and work toward meaningful reconciliation and action.”