One oft-overlooked aspect of the residential schools in Canada – run mostly by the Catholic Church and the Church of England in Canada, in conjunction with the government – is that the perpetrators documented their activities. Documented experiments such as introducing a child with tuberculosis to a classroom, and seeing how many others would contract it. And how quickly.
They wrote down many things, but if they ever chronicled these particular children’s names – or how they died – good luck finding that paperwork. Oh, these children might’ve died over the years of disease or accident, of course. Or, some or most of them by abuse and/or neglect. The fact that they were interred, nameless, in a mass grave can only suggest the latter causes to those already dubious. Even more disturbingly, however, is that it indicates that those with shovels and pens and power did not view these children as human, much less their god’s children. They were buried like stray dogs.
It is so, so past time to refer to these sorts of actions of the past and present as crimes against humanity — not as crimes against indigenous and minority peoples. Crimes against humanity. The 1921 Tulsa Massacre, for example, was a crime against humanity. The U.S. Army chasing Chief Joseph and his Nez Perce was a crime against humanity. The British fighting and hunting the Maori people in New Zealand in order to take their land, that was a crime against humanity.
Before they died, regardless of how they died, these children in Canada were victims of a crime against humanity. Attempts to eradicate a people’s language, religion, heritage… change their appearance, how they dress. Take their land, if not kill them as well. Then, or later.
Speaking of the residential schools and their American counterparts this morning, my mother said, “You know, that was Nazi stuff. Nazi stuff way before and after WWII.” She mentioned our Osage ancestor/matriarch, Mary, and the large framed photo in mom’s living room. In the photo, Mary has very short hair.
The Nazis infamously documented everything, too. Because they were not only convinced that victory was within their grasp… they were convinced they were right. Winners get to write history, you see. I think that Canada, the U.S. and some of their Allies – all regarded as winners – are merely countries whose losses have been, and will be, belatedly acknowledged.
From CNN.com:
Canadians demand action from officials as country mourns discovery of a mass grave of children’s remains –
https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/31/americas/canadians-mourn-mass-grave-childrens-remains/
