Hamilton memorial forms for 215 children found at former B.C. residential school

WARNING: This story contains details some readers may find distressing.

A memorial providing a place to remember and reflect on the 215 children whose remains were discovered on the grounds of a residential school in Kamloops, B.C., is growing in Stoney Creek.

Jordan Carrier, a Plains Cree woman, helped start the display on Sunday by placing a pair of baby moccasins she made and sharing a call on social media for others to do the same.

Within hours was surrounded by dozens of children's shoes and boots, forming a circle between the nine-foot granite figures of the Eagles Among Us artwork at Battlefield House.

Organizers said the site had nearly 100 pairs of shoes as of Sunday evening. The goal is 215.

A vigil at the site is planned for 6 p.m. Monday.

The memorial mirrors similar displays in cities across Canada, following preliminary findings from a survey of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School that the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation said has uncovered the remains of 215 children buried there.

Carrier said the discovery of the remains did not come as a surprise to Indigenous communities.

"We've heard the stories because we're all impacted by residential schools," she said. "But it's still a stark reminder of the sheer magnitude of the impacts of those schools."

The memorial is meant as a space for people to go pray, reflect and remember the children, said Carrier.

"I'm a mom. I have children. I can't imagine losing them that way ... to such a vile environments that were meant to change who they were as their authentic selves," she said.

The Six Nations of the Grand River Elected Council responded with a statement on Friday, describing the findings in a media release as as an "unspeakable loss" and a "stark reminder of the atrocities committed during Canada's dark history of the residential school system."

"Our heavy hearts are with all the families impacted, the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc community, and all survivors who may be triggered as they try to comprehend this devastation," said Elected Chief Mark Hill.

"We hope that this confirmation allows for a path to healing and closure for the families and home communities of the children. We are sending our thoughts and good medicine to Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc."

Carrier and fellow organizer Jessica Bonilla-Damptey started the memorial, which quickly grew.

"For me, that just showed we weren't the only ones who needed that space," she said.

WATCH | Shoes, boots and moccasins form memorial:

'Every child matters'

4 years ago

Duration 0:43

Dozens of pairs of children's shoes, boots and moccasins form a memorial in Stoney Creek following a preliminary findings from a survey at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School uncovered the remains of 215 children — some as young as three years old.

Bonilla-Damptey, who identifies as an Indigenous woman from El Salvador, said the memorial is meant as a place of remembrance created out of love and respect for Indigenous communities going through grief and trauma.

Carrier hopes Indigenous community members will use the memorial as a site to come together safely despite COVID-19.

For non-Indigenous Hamiltonians who attend the vigil, Carrier said she hopes they'll understand that truth is necessary for reconciliation.

"For me, truth and reconciliation wasn't meant to be separated into just reconciliation," she said. "We need that truth and this tragedy brings that truth loud and clear. We can't reconcile until we address the truth."

Organizers are hoping to donate the shoots and boots used for the memorial to area Indigenous organizations.

'Change has to start with me and my family'

Daniela Magic said she was driving by Sunday night, but stopped when she noticed the shoes.

"Walking up, I started to tear up right away. It's not easy to look at. It's very devastating," she said.

Magic added she hopes the memorial will help raise awareness about Canada's past.

"It's awful. I think that more people need to be aware," she said. "We need to be more educated about our history."

"I can't speak for the Indigenous community at all, just that it's heartbreaking and my heart goes out to them."

Dorothy Moggach was also emotional as she looked at the small pairs of shoes, boots and moccasins on Sunday night.

"These 215 little feet could have changed the world," she said. "We thought we knew better, and we'll never be able to fix and apologize and make right what we did if we continue to hide stuff like this."

The Hamilton woman said she came out to the memorial after putting her own little ones to sleep.

"I ... just couldn't imagine what those families went through and what they're going through again because all these memories are being dredged up," she said through tears. "It's an atrocity and it's disgusting."

Moggach said she sees the memorial as a call to do better, noting her own family has been in Canada for generations.

"Change has to start with me and my family," she said.

"The things that have happened and are continuing to happen, they have to stop. These 215 kids should have had an opportunity and they didn't."

Memorials and moments of silence

A memorial made up of children's footwear also covered the steps of the Mohawk Institute in Brantford on Sunday.

The former residential school is now the Woodland Cultural Centre, which functions as a museum that educates visitors about the history of the school.

Flags at Hamilton city hall and municipal service centres around the community have been lowered to half-mast for nine days, or 215 hours, starting Monday morning.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger said a moment of silence will be held at 2:15 p.m. 

Flags in other area communities, including Niagara Falls and Burlington, also been lowered to half-mast.

Niagara Falls was also illuminated with orange light Sunday and is set to be illuminated again Monday night.

Six Nations is planning to lower flags at Veteran's Park and to livestream a moment of silence at 2:15 p.m.

Intergenerational trauma caused by the residential school continues impact Six Nations members today, the elected council stated in its media release. Any members who looking for help or in need of someone to talk to are directed to the following resources:

• 24/7 Mobile Crisis Line: 519-445-2204 or 1-866-445-2204.
• Six Nations Mental Health and Addictions: 519-445-2143 (Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm).

The Hamilton Regional Indian Centre is also open today to support people by phone or in-person, though visitors are asked to follow physical distancing and wear a mask. A sacred fire has been lit at the centre to acknowledge the children who were found.

A 24-hour National Indian Residential School Crisis Line for former residential school students and those affected can be reached by calling 1-866-925-4419.