Calgary's Catholic School District (CCSD) has decided to rename Bishop Grandin High School in solidarity with the victims of Canada's residential school system.
The CCSD faced calls to remove the name following the uncovering of 966 unmarked graves at former residential schools in BC and Saskatchewan. Bishop Grandin was one of the ardent supporters of Canada's residential school system.
The remains of 751 unmarked graves in Cowessess First Nation were located with ground-penetrating radar last week. This came after 215 children - found buried in Kamloops - and 104 unmarked graves in Brandon shocked the country, urging immediate calls to action.
More residential schools operated in Alberta than in other provinces or territories. Twenty-five federally funded and church-run residential schools were open at various times between 1872 and 1975.
A 2015 study completed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission estimates 3,200 children perished from neglect and abuse. However, some Indigenous leaders estimate that 6,000 children died in residential schools. And others believe it to be greater.
Across Canada, more than 150,000 Indigenous children were removed from their families and sent to Indian Residential Schools between 1831 and 1996. Many died from contagious diseases, malnutrition, abuse, industrial accidents or while running away.
In Calgary, Bishop Grandin is not the only school to commit to a name change, which 79 percent of people polled support.
According to the Calgary Herald, Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi passionately advocated for both Langevin and Bishop Grandin to be renamed in late May, citing the need for justice for the country’s Indigenous population.
Langevin School reverted to Riverside School because Hector Louis Langevin was a founder of the residential school system.
CCSD have indicated that Bishop Grandin will be without a name until they select a new moniker.
Alberta's government recently announced an $8 million fund to uncover residential school burial sites and actively support reconciliation. Indigenous communities are encouraged to apply for up to $150,000 in funding.
Grant funding will be available to Indigenous communities and organizations for community-driven research, including gathering oral histories and knowledge of elders and community-led engagement to determine how communities wish to proceed with a burial site.
Enoch Cree Nation Chief Billy Morin previously said that how Indigenous communities proceed is decided by their people.
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