The Tragedy of Residential Schools in Canada

In my recent travels to Canada, I saw many amazing and beautiful things. I also saw miles of fence posts each with a stuffed animal on each posts. I asked my brother what was the meaning of these cute little stuffed animals.  He said it was to remember all the children who’s bodies were recently uncovered at various former residential schools around the country. 

The impact was chilling and horrifying to me.  Not only was there cultural genocide in our Canadian history, now there is what amounts to murder and gross neglect against the First Nations people.  

I came across this beautiful building that I discovered was a former residential school and after walking around, I found this statue of “The Children”. The juxtaposition of the two prompted me to capture this image.  The children are purposely edited with the cold blue of a gravestone against the bright sun-lit residential school building in the background.  

The institution of residential schools ripped children away from their families, took away their names and identities, insisted they no longer speak their own language or hold onto any mementos from their past.  And now…bodies of so many young children are being unearthed around these places….

My heart is breaking 💔