Governor General Mary Simon blamed residential school "denialism" on unnamed news media..Some media are attempting to “control the story of indigenous peoples,” said Simon..“There are those who deny the stories of residential schools, of abuse and neglect and racism,” Simon said in a speech Friday to observe a National Gathering on Unmarked Burials conference. .“Even though residential school denialism is in the minority, it is nonetheless present.”.“Denialism takes the form of attacks online, through the media and through the desecration of burial sites,” said Simon. .“These attacks are attempts to control the story of indigenous peoples.”.According to Blacklock’s Reporter, Simon's remarks were not spontaneous; they were prepared in advance and delivered from a written text. Rideau Hall did not respond to questions..“Canadians can no longer say ‘I didn’t know,’” said Simon. .“We now acknowledge all aspects of our history, both the good and the bad.”.“For the longest time, too long, this trauma was buried, unheard,” said Simon. .“For years, the loss, fear and pleas from mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, grandparents, uncles, aunts and communities went unrecognized. Children disappeared at residential schools and other institutions, buried in unmarked graves.”.In 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ordered that the Peace Tower flag be lowered for 161 days. This decision came after First Nations announced the discovery of unmarked graves containing the remains of approximately 215 children at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, BC..“Canadians have seen with horror those unmarked graves,” Trudeau told reporters at the time..No remains have been disinterred in Kamloops to date. Cabinet funded a $7.9 million search of the Kamloops site and $3.1 million for a national Residential Schools Student Death Register. .Another $238.8 million was budgeted for a Residential Schools Missing Children Community Support Fund that expires in 2025..In a July 19 report, the Senate Indigenous Peoples committee recommended implementing a federal ban on what they referred to as "residential school denialism." .However, the senators did not provide a specific definition for this term and declined interview requests..“The committee heard about ongoing denialism about residential schools and that some individuals deny the negative effects on generations of indigenous peoples,” said the Senate report Honouring the Children Who Never Came Home. .“Of real concern to the committee is the small group of vocal individuals who try to undermine survivors’ accounts of the hardships and abuse they experienced at residential schools.”.“Denialism serves to distract people from the horrific consequences of residential schools and the realities of missing children, burials and unmarked graves,” said the report. .“The committee is of the view that education and advocacy can effectively combat denialism.”.The committee recommended “the Government of Canada take every action necessary to combat the rise of residential school denialism.” It did not elaborate.
Governor General Mary Simon blamed residential school "denialism" on unnamed news media..Some media are attempting to “control the story of indigenous peoples,” said Simon..“There are those who deny the stories of residential schools, of abuse and neglect and racism,” Simon said in a speech Friday to observe a National Gathering on Unmarked Burials conference. .“Even though residential school denialism is in the minority, it is nonetheless present.”.“Denialism takes the form of attacks online, through the media and through the desecration of burial sites,” said Simon. .“These attacks are attempts to control the story of indigenous peoples.”.According to Blacklock’s Reporter, Simon's remarks were not spontaneous; they were prepared in advance and delivered from a written text. Rideau Hall did not respond to questions..“Canadians can no longer say ‘I didn’t know,’” said Simon. .“We now acknowledge all aspects of our history, both the good and the bad.”.“For the longest time, too long, this trauma was buried, unheard,” said Simon. .“For years, the loss, fear and pleas from mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, grandparents, uncles, aunts and communities went unrecognized. Children disappeared at residential schools and other institutions, buried in unmarked graves.”.In 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ordered that the Peace Tower flag be lowered for 161 days. This decision came after First Nations announced the discovery of unmarked graves containing the remains of approximately 215 children at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, BC..“Canadians have seen with horror those unmarked graves,” Trudeau told reporters at the time..No remains have been disinterred in Kamloops to date. Cabinet funded a $7.9 million search of the Kamloops site and $3.1 million for a national Residential Schools Student Death Register. .Another $238.8 million was budgeted for a Residential Schools Missing Children Community Support Fund that expires in 2025..In a July 19 report, the Senate Indigenous Peoples committee recommended implementing a federal ban on what they referred to as "residential school denialism." .However, the senators did not provide a specific definition for this term and declined interview requests..“The committee heard about ongoing denialism about residential schools and that some individuals deny the negative effects on generations of indigenous peoples,” said the Senate report Honouring the Children Who Never Came Home. .“Of real concern to the committee is the small group of vocal individuals who try to undermine survivors’ accounts of the hardships and abuse they experienced at residential schools.”.“Denialism serves to distract people from the horrific consequences of residential schools and the realities of missing children, burials and unmarked graves,” said the report. .“The committee is of the view that education and advocacy can effectively combat denialism.”.The committee recommended “the Government of Canada take every action necessary to combat the rise of residential school denialism.” It did not elaborate.
