Residential school survivors’ group on verge of shutdown amid lack of funding from Canada

The Survivors’ Secretariat, a group dedicated to uncovering the truth about missing children and unmarked burials associated with the former Mohawk Institute Indian Residential School in Brantford, Ont., is facing imminent shutdown due to a lack of funding. The non-profit organization has not received any funding this fiscal year and will have to close its doors by the end of the month if they do not receive support from Crown-Indigenous Relations.

Laura Arndt, the lead of the secretariat, expressed disappointment in the federal government for not living up to its promises. She cited commitments made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree to support survivors in their quest for truth. However, the lack of funding and support from the government have left the organization on the brink of closure.

The promises made by the government in 2021, following the discovery of over 200 potential unmarked burials at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia, have not been fulfilled. The community support fund that was set up with a commitment to finding the missing children has faced challenges, including attempts to cut and cap the available funds. This has led to a lack of support for crucial projects and investigations.

Arndt highlighted the government’s actions, including blocking communities from using funds for invasive archaeological investigations and the resignation of a national advisory committee due to lack of funding. These actions, according to Arndt, send a message to survivors that Canada is not as committed to reconciliation as it claims to be.

In response to the concerns raised by the Survivors’ Secretariat, Anandasangaree’s spokesperson, Bahoz Dara Aziz, stated that the application deadline for funding was Nov. 15 and that all requests are being assessed based on the criteria provided. However, the lack of funding and support has put the important work of uncovering the truth about residential schools at risk.

The Mohawk Institute, also known as the Mush Hole, was the longest-running residential school in Canada, operating from 1828 to 1970. The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation has documented 48 deaths linked to the institute, but the secretariat’s investigation has revealed over 100 known deaths.

Kimberly Murray, the special interlocutor for missing children and unmarked burials associated with residential schools, has criticized Crown-Indigenous Relations for treating these searches like any other program. She has emphasized the importance of funding and access to the truth in uncovering the crimes against humanity that occurred at residential schools.

As the government estimates that 150,000 Indigenous children attended residential schools, the need to uncover the truth and seek reconciliation is more important than ever. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has concluded that the residential school system was a central element of a Canadian policy of cultural genocide.

The lack of funding and support for organizations like the Survivors’ Secretariat threatens to hinder the progress of uncovering the truth about Canada’s residential school system. It is crucial for the government to fulfill its promises and support survivors in their quest for justice and reconciliation.