First Nations group in Manitoba says all residential schools need to be investigated
A First Nations advocacy group in Manitoba is urging RCMP across the country to open criminal investigations into all former residential schools following a decade-long investigation into allegations of sexual abuse at a former residential school in the province.
The Southern Chiefs' Organization says investigations are warranted and critical in helping First Nations people heal.
"By exposing all of the horrors inflicted upon our people and seeking justice, we can then chart a clear path to reconciling with everyone who now shares this land," Grand Chief Jerry Daniels said in a statement Wednesday.
Manitoba RCMP said earlier this week they have been investigating allegations of sexual abuse at the Fort Alexander Residential School, northeast of Winnipeg, since 2010.
A criminal investigation was launched the following year.
The school was opened in 1905 in the community of Fort Alexander, which later became Sagkeeng First Nation. It ran for 66 years until 1970.
Mounties said they interviewed more than 700 people across North America and collected 75 statements from witnesses and alleged victims.
They said it is the only investigation into residential schools in the province.
Peguis First Nation Chief Glenn Hudson offered his support to the community of Sagkeeng and called for RCMP to expedite and prioritize the investigation process.
Hudson echoed calls for Mounties to open criminal investigations into all residential schools, as abuses weren't limited to one school.
"All criminals guilty of the worst offences imaginable against children must be thoroughly investigated and brought to justice," he said in a statement.
An estimated 150,000 First Nations, Inuit and Metis children were forced to attend residential schools.
Survivors told the Truth and Reconciliation Commission stories of abuse they endured while staying at the schools, including instances of starvation and harsh discipline.
The commission's final report said Phil Fontaine, former grand chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and a past national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, put experiences at residential schools on the national agenda in 1990 when he disclosed his own sexual abuse at the Fort Alexander school.
Part of the commission's final report examined the way the Canadian legal system failed survivors. The report said the criminal and civil justice systems seemed to side in favour of the school authorities and school administrators.
"To survivors, the justice system was a barrier to their efforts to bring out the truth of their collective experience," the report concluded.
Manitoba RCMP called their investigation into the Fort Alexander school "large and complex." They forwarded their investigative court package to the Crown prosecutor's office to review and provide advice regarding charges.
Justice Minister Cameron Friesen said on Wednesday this was not a conventional investigation and work is underway to determine if charges should be laid.
Friesen would not comment on when the prosecutor's office received the court package from the Mounties.
He also would not say when a decision would be made but recognized the urgency as some alleged abusers may have died.
"I would say that time is of the essence and the prosecutions branch is aware of that, and that is being reflected in their work," said Friesen.
A similar investigation took place decades ago in British Columbia.
In the 1990s, B.C. RCMP conducted an extensive investigation into criminal allegations related to 15 former residential schools in the province.
The Native Indian Residential School Task Force was created in December 1994 to investigate complaints of historic physical and sexual abuse at the church-run residential schools around B.C., an RCMP spokesperson said in a statement.
The unit was in place for eight years and a total of 14 individuals were charged with various offences since the first allegations were made to police in 1988.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 28, 2021.
-- With files from Kelly Geraldine Malone and Steve Lambert in Winnipeg.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.