The commemorative display features 215 stakes to remember the children lost to residential schools. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Remember, reflect, and reconcile

Saskatchewan municipality’s commemorative display honours children lost to residential schools

Jul 8, 2021 | 2:04 PM

A Saskatchewan municipality is showing it stands in solidarity with Indigenous families grieving the loss of their children to residential schools in the province and throughout Canada.

The City of North Battleford installed 215 stakes with orange ribbons on the Don Ross Centre hill to show its respect, and honour the children lost to residential schools across the country.

Many people visiting the display in North Battleford have left teddy bears, children’s tiny shoes and other mementoes by the stakes.

Mayor David Gillan says council hoped to do something to show its respect, and increase awareness about the issue.

“We wanted to get people reflecting on the situation,” he said. “There are some signs up there: reflecting, remembering, respecting, reconciling.”

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Gillan says the commemorative display also reflects the importance of inclusiveness, and is inline with the city’s values as part of Canada’s Coalition of Inclusive Municipalities.

People have been leaving children’s shoes and other mementoes at the commemorative display. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

“As a city, we believe in inclusivity,” Gillan said. “It’s really about paying respect, and hoping that everybody can get better educated and better understand as we try to go forward as a community, more together and more inclusive.”

Councillor Bill Ironstand says while more burial sites continue to be found, 215 is the number many people associate with the unmarked graves, based on the findings first reported in the Kamloops area. That’s why the city decided to install 215 stakes for the initiative.

The city also planted 215 flowers at the base of the flags on the hill behind the Allen Sapp Gallery building.

Ironstand says he hopes the city’s commemorative displays shows support to the Indigenous population who are in mourning.

“We are all Treaty people,” he said. “No matter what nationality you are. If you live in Treaty 6 territory, we are all treaty people. And we want to respect our neighbours.”

In total, there have been 1,505 unmarked graves reported to be found so far this year on the grounds of several former Residential School sites across Canada. Among the discoveries, 751 unmarked graves were found at a site near the former Marieval Indian Residential School on Cowessess First Nation in southeast Saskatchewan. In May, it was reported that 215 children’s remains were found on the grounds of the former residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia.

A ground search is currently underway at the former St. Henri Residential School in the Delmas area to look for potential unmarked graves.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow