Canada’s Indigenous chief wants probe into residential schools after 215 bodies discovered

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Canada (AA) - A Chief of a First Nations group demanded Tuesday a search at all 139 former Indian Residential Schools after the discovery of 215 unmarked graves of Indigenous children caused an uproar in Canada.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau vowed to act and take "concrete action" on Monday after news of the discovery dominated Canadian media late last week.

About 150,000 Aboriginal children were taken from their parents, sometimes by force, and put into residential schools beginning in the 1830s. White authorities tried to stamp out the Indigenous culture in the children.

The 215 bodies were discovered at a British Columbia residential school using radar technology and authorities expect to find more unmarked graves on the grounds of 138 schools that were established across Canada. The last school closed in 1996.

News of the bodies, some as young as 3 years old, hit Indigenous communities hard. One Native survivor of the residential schools told the Aboriginal People Television Network that hearing about it "was just like getting stabbed in the heart."

Trudeau said his Cabinet is discussing how to best deal with the situation.

"We are looking for how we can support Indigenous communities in their grief and in their requests for answers,' Trudeau said Monday at a news conference. "I know there will be many, many discussions to be had in the coming days and weeks about how we can best support these communities and get to the truth."

Chief Bobby Cameron, head of the 74 tribes under the umbrella of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, said he has talked to Saskatchewan provincial Premier Scott Moe and federal Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller and they agreed to search all residential schools.

"They are committed to working with us and getting this done for our families and survivors," Cameron told CTV News. "It's going to happen, it's just a matter of when and how soon. We are hoping [for a start] by the end of the week.”

A Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established in 2008 and members toured Canada, hearing stories from residential school survivors and families.

It termed the psychological, physical and sexual abuse of the thousands of children a "genocide," a characterization that Trudeau accepted.