KAWARTHA LAKES-The horrifying discovery of 215 children in a mass grave on the grounds of a Residential School in Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation territory, British Columbia has sent shockwaves across the country.
For a local woman, the residential school system is part of her family heritage.
“My father never shared or talked about his time at residential school but he went to St.Annes in Fort Albany, Ontario.” Linda Bird told Kawartha 411 News. “I learned that St.Annes was one of the most notorious schools across Canada it had an electric chair.”
St. Annes operated from 1902 to 1976. While it was in operation the school took Cree students from Fort Albany First Nation and area. An OPP investigation conducted between 1992 and 1998 interviewed 700 victims and witnesses. Victims reported physical assaults, sexual assaults, suspicious deaths and more. Seven people were charged and five convicted, out of 74 suspects identified.
Bird is a Nurse at Ross Memorial Hospital. She says after hearing about the children in BC she felt compelled to help raise awareness.
“My father is a residential school survivor so I felt it was important to me to raise awareness.” Linda Bird told Kawartha 411.
She decided to make a poster and place it along the river at the old Mill in Lindsay.
“I laid down tobacco (indigenous prayer) and left baby shoes for those 215 children found.” she says.
Bird is encouraging others to do the same and add to her display
Flags at City Hall and Municipal Service Centres across the municipality were lowered in honour of the 215 children.
“Today we mourn the lives of these children, and the lives of all others who never made it home from school. On behalf of Council and the entire municipality, we send condolences to the survivors and their families. We lower our flags as a sign of our sympathy and respect for the victims,” commented Mayor Letham.
