Third section of unmarked graves found

Remains of more than 180 people have been found in unmarked gravesites near a former residential school in British Columbia, making it the third such discovery recently and another dark chapter in Canada's mistreatment of indigenous children.

According to a statement released Wednesday, the Lower Kootenay Band, a member of the Ktunaxa Nation, said the discovery of the 182 sets of remains was near the former St. Eugene's Mission School near Cranbrook city, which was operated by the Catholic Church from 1912 to the 1970s.

The statement said about 100 band members attended the residential school.

"Many Lower Kootenay Band members were forced to attend the St. Eugene's Mission School," the statement said.

The finding comes a month after the remains of 215 children were found buried on the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, BC, and weeks later, 751 unmarked graves were found near a former residential school in Saskatchewan.

Howard E. Grant, the executive director of the First Nations Summit, which comprises a majority of First Nations and Tribal Councils in BC, told China Daily that he and his community have grieved many years before the discoveries.

"We grieve for the youth who not having the opportunity to enjoy life, for those who still survive but never had a chance to embrace their loved ones; they only have them in their memories," said Grant.

Grant was born and raised in the Musqueam Indian community.

"The genocide did happen here. Because our children, the young, that were beaten when they spoke their language, that they were punished when they tried to practice their culture, and that they were removed from their family environment, and became numb and unknown, and unknowingly left out in the cold," said Grant. "They became somewhat like zombies, the trauma of seeing and hearing of their relatives and their friends in the school system being abused or gone because of those unmarked graves."

Canada's residential schools targeted indigenous children for more than a century before the last building closed in the 1990s. About 150,000 First Nations, Inuit and Metis children were forcibly sent to government-funded, church-operated schools, where were known for overcrowding, poor sanitation, unhealthy food and menial labour. Students who spoke their native language or took part in traditional ceremonies were punished harshly.

"We have embraced the traumatic memories over the last 50 to 100 years. Each one of us needs further healing," said Grant. "But if you look at the government, the politicians and the social elite of this country, things have not changed."

The Ottawa government apologized in 2008 and admitted that physical and sexual abuse in the schools was "rampant".

"We talk about reconciliation; we talk about a new relationship. But that can only happen if and when action takes place ... which results in educating the population of this country, educating the newcomers of Canada, so that this never, ever happens again," Grant added.

David Choi, national executive chair of the National Congress of Chinese Canadians, said the systemic problems of racism encountered by First Nation and other minority groups such as the Chinese still exist.

"Because why only in 2021 that we discovered within a month, graves after graves to Canadians who don't understand the history? Is this the Pandora's box that opens on the dark pages of Canadian history?" Choi argued.

The discoveries have sparked a calling to cancel the patriotic July 1 celebration of Canada Day. Indigenous community leaders across Canada have urged people to not hold any celebrations.

Several Catholic churches have recently been damaged in fires following the discovery of unmarked graves, which the indigenous leaders said was not a way to get justice.

Perry Bellegarde, the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said he understands the rage, frustration and pain brought on by the discovery, but funnelling that anguish into burning down churches will not bring justice. "Our way is to build relationships and come together."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who said Canada's responsibility to bear the pain and grief that indigenous communities are feeling, said of the fires: "This is not the way to go. The destruction of places of worship is unacceptable and it must stop."