880. Kamloops Indian Residential School

2021 became the year where 215 graves were discovered at the place which once housed Kamloops Indian Residential School. The school opened in 1890 and operations shut down in 1978. As with many residentials schools in Canada also many of the children attending the school were forced away from their parents. They were punished if they spoke their native language. If some cases students were abused by the employees, even sexual abuse took place.

How the 215 children died is not known. Survivors of the school believed that they had run away.

It is very safe to assume that it could not have been a fun place to be as a child.

Sources:

• ‘We do not want this to be hidden’: Remains of 215 children discovered on site of former residential school (CTV News)
• ‘Unthinkable’ discovery in Canada as remains of 215 children found buried near residential school (CNN)
• Behind Closed Doors: Stories from the Kamloops Indian Residential School (Penticton, B.C.: Secwepemc Cultural Education Society / Theytus Books Ltd.)
• Why so many children died at Indian Residential Schools (National Post)