There is a growing local tribute to the recent discovery of the remains of 215 Indigenous children, some as young as three, near the site of a former Indian residential school in Kamloops, B.C., and the issue came up during Monday night’s meeting of Estevan city council.
Dozens of children’s shoes and boots were placed by city hall since the remains were discovered Friday. The tiny footwear has become a symbol for the lives lost. Similar tributes have been happening across the country.
The shoes and boots will be relocated to the evergreen tree in front of city hall, so that people won’t have to risk tripping over them, and so that they won’t be damaged by the city’s sprinkler system.
The flags in front of city hall will be at half-mast for 215 hours. They will return to normal on June 8.
While several council members spoke about the tragedy at Monday’s meeting, the strongest message came from Councillor Rebecca Foord, who said the news should have brought Canada to its knees, but she hasn’t seen that happen yet. Many have avoided or whispered about the issue, because it’s hard to talk about.
Foord would like to see more happening in Estevan.
“There are people in our community and our surrounding area who were residential school survivors or are residential school survivors. They have children and they have grandchildren that live and work in our community, and these schools created generations of traumas for families, including mine,” said Foord.
She suggested the city should start to have a conversation with Indigenous peoples in the area to find a way to collaborate with them in sharing their stories, their history and their culture, so they can continue on this path of education and reconciliation.
“Where reconciliation is concerned, I don’t think we’ve scratched the surface of it,” said Foord.
There will be tough conversations, questions and answers, but she believes it’s time to do better.
Foord asked for council’s blessing to spearhead this and to begin the conversation as a city. It would also involve working with cultural groups such as the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum and the Estevan Arts Council to display the Indigenous history in the community and educate others.
Mayor Roy Ludwig voiced his approval to Foord’s request, while other council members clapped and supportively banged their desks after Foord’s speech.
The mayor suggested a mural in the community to pay tribute to Indigenous peoples, and offered council’s support for any assistance Foord needs.
