She:kon (hello),

With the recent news of the remains of 215 children being found at the former site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School, and as moccasins, sneakers and sandals line the front of public buildings across the country, we should all be grief stricken. 

But framing this as a wake-up call, that Canadians are finally paying attention and that change will happen is premature and overly optimistic.

Canadians have had numerous chances to “wake up,” to act, to make change, to do better. But so far, Canada has failed to do so. And the cycle continues.

As a mixed-Kanyen'keha:ka woman, these past several days have felt impossible. How can we continue life as normal when 215 of our people, our children, our community members' remains have been found? How can I juggle the needs of a newsroom with my desire to hit pause? How can I ask Indigenous people to write stories when I know they too need time to grieve?

For the last week, our team has been working on and discussing stories related to the findings in Kamloops. Like the authors we collaborate with and edit, our team is committed to producing stories in ethical ways, which means knowing that it can take time.

We published three new stories on Friday: Marcia Anderson, an Indigenous physician and researcher at the University of Manitoba, explains the legacy of residential schools and the ongoing racism she still sees today in the health-care system; David MacDonald of the University of Guelph asks why Canada is quick to recognize genocide in other countries but not here; Joanna Quinn of Western University explains why many Canadians don't appear to care enough about the lasting effects of the residential school system.

For your weekend reading, I've also included Veldon Colburn's story from earlier in the week about mourning "the disappeared," as well as other Indigenous-themed stories previously published by The Conversation Canada that are worth reading again in the wake of the terrible news from Kamloops.

With an aim of keeping this conversation going, we’re going to continue publishing stories related to the findings, highlighting Indigenous voices as much as possible and do everything we can to make sure these 215 children aren’t forgotten.

Nyà:wen (thank you),

Haley Lewis

Culture + Society Editor

Weekend Reading: the Legacy of Indian Residential Schools

As an Indigenous doctor, I see the legacy of residential schools and ongoing racism in today’s health care

Marcia Anderson, University of Manitoba

A commitment to eliminating racism must be reflected in accountability mechanisms that focus on the impacts of coordinated and consistent anti-racist action.

Canada’s hypocrisy: Recognizing genocide except its own against Indigenous peoples

David MacDonald, University of Guelph

Canada has officially recognized eight genocides that have happened around the world. It has not done the same for its own treatment of Indigenous children who they sent to Indian Residential Schools.

Why many Canadians don’t seem to care about the lasting effects of residential schools

Joanna R. Quinn, Western University

Canadians need to understand the basic harms and violences that continue to be experienced by Indigenous people across the land we call Canada.

No longer ‘the disappeared’: Mourning the 215 children found in graves at Kamloops Indian Residential School

Veldon Coburn, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa

Ground-penetrating radar located the remains of 215 First Nations children in a mass unmarked grave, revealing a macabre part of Canada’s hidden history.

Egerton Ryerson: Racist philosophy of residential schools also shaped public education

Hunter Knight, University of Toronto

Let's not ignore how the racist philosophy behind residential schools shaped mainstream education. Ryerson foresaw Canada's continuing evolution into a "civilized," white, culturally British nation.

Residential school survivors’ stories and experiences must be remembered as class action settlement finishes

Cindy Hanson, University of Regina; Curtis J Shuba, University of Regina; Sidey Deska-Gauthier, University of Guelph

The destruction of IAP residential school records and media reports that continually emphasize compensation will ensure that if remembered, the process will be remembered through a colonial gaze.

Indian day school survivors are seeking truth and justice

Jackson Pind, Queen's University, Ontario; Raymond Mason; Theodore Christou, Queen's University, Ontario

Canada is accepting claims emerging from a settlement with survivors of Indian day schools, but there has yet to be a public inquiry. There is an urgent need to hold Canada accountable.

Residential school literature can teach the colonial present and imagine better futures

Michelle Coupal, University of Regina

To understand the colonial past is to open the door to understanding the colonial present and future. This understanding is a crucial part of the pathway to real change.

Teaching truth and reconciliation in Canada: The perfect place to begin is right where a teacher stands

Lindsay Morcom, Queen's University, Ontario; Kate Freeman, Queen's University, Ontario

Decolonized education means working with settler teachers to overcome guilt and find the courage to acknowledge privilege, racism and colonialism to work in partnership for a better future.

Settlers with Opinions

Daniel Heath Justice, University of British Columbia

A leading Indigenous academic says too many Canadians take ugly pleasure in being ignorant about Indigenous issues. It's time for some straight talk about Settlers with Opinions.

The Conversation Weekly podcast
What is a ‘blue acceleration’ doing to our oceans? Avigator Fortuner/Shutterstock

The ocean economy is booming: who is making money, who is paying the price? Podcast

Gemma Ware, The Conversation; Catesby Holmes, The Conversation; Daniel Merino, The Conversation

Plus, why Brazilian women who lived through Zika are avoiding getting pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic. Listen to episode 18 of The Conversation Weekly podcast.