An order of Catholic nuns whose members taught at the Kamloops Indian Residential School says it has reached an agreement to make its private archival records accessible to Indigenous communities that could help shine light on how 215 children ended up in unidentified graves.
The Sisters of St. Ann (SSA) have signed a memorandum of understanding with the Royal BC Museum that comes into effect on July 1 as part of its commitment to providing transparency, healing and reconciliation in any way possible.
“We affirm our commitment to collaborate in finding the truth and will assist in the process in whatever way we can,” Sister Marie Zarowny, the President and Board Chair of The Sisters of St. Ann said, in a statement.
“It is of the utmost importance to us to contribute, in any way possible, to transparency and accessibility, and participate in activities that can lead to healing and reconciliation.”
The agreement is aimed at enhancing access to the documents for both the museum and the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre (IRSHDC) at UBC.
It will also make the documents accessible to the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc following the discovery of what are believed to be the remains of 215 children in Kamloops – a discovery which was made public on May 27. Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir says a final report on findings in Kamloops should be done before July 1.
Staff at the BC Archives will work with the IRSHDC to begin the process of auditing the SSA holdings next month. The MOU will likely remain in effect until 2025 when all the work to review and process the records is complete and the SSA archives are transferred to the BC Archives at the Royal BC Museum.
“All archives from organizations that were involved with residential schools can play a role in the process of truth-finding and reconciliation,” added Dr. Daniel Muzyka, the Board Chair and Acting CEO of the Royal BC Museum. “Expediting access to the SSA records to Indigenous communities is a positive step along this path”
The IRSHDC and the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation will also work with the signatories to ensure transparency.
The Congregation of Sisters of St. Anne, based in Quebec, said on its website that its nuns in B.C. taught at the residential school from 1890 to 1970 and they were also involved in three other residential schools.
You can read a copy of the MOU here.
– With files from The Canadian Press
