WATCH ABOVE: Dr. Robert Joseph joins Global News to talk about the demolition of St. Micheal’s residential school in Alert Bay and what it signifies to the community.
VANCOUVER – A special ceremony was held on Wednesday to mark the demolition of St. Michael’s Indian Residential School in Alert Bay.
The school was operated by the Anglican Church from 1930 to 1975 and thousands of aboriginal people say they faced physical and sexual abuse there.
“St. Michael’s is a symbol and stark reminder of a dark chapter in our history,” said John Rustad, B.C. Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, in a release. “From the 1870s to 1996, more than 150,000 Aboriginal children in Canada were removed from their homes and placed in government-funded, church-run schools like St. Michael’s.”
“We recognize the deep scars inflicted on children who attended these schools. And we acknowledge and honour the courage of survivors, their families and all those who suffered. As we look to the future, we share a great hope and optimism for healing and reconciliation.”
St. Michael’s school held aboriginal people from northern Vancouver Island and B.C.’s north coast, including from Bella Bella, Bella Coola, the Nisga’a territories and Haida Gwaii.
“But its place in history should never be forgotten, and what happened there can never be changed,” said Rustad. “Healing the relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal British Columbians continues. It will take sincere effort, education and understanding of what happened to survivors, their families and all the children who were there.”
– With files from The Canadian Press
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