In 1943, Johnny Kiyawasew passed away at the age of 11 in a small hospital located in northern Alberta, far from his family in the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation.
After being compelled to attend the Catholic-operated St. Francis Xavier Residential School in Calais, Alta., Johnny never returned to his home, and it took many years for his siblings to discover the truth about his fate.
“My parents, especially my dad, were never informed about anything. A death certificate was issued without his knowledge or consent,” shared Robert Kiyawasew, Johnny’s younger brother.
“It’s unjust… the church should have informed my father about his passing.”
Following years of uncertainty, Robert Kiyawasew revealed that his older sister Roseann, with assistance from a private investigator, located Johnny’s burial site in 2013.
“The caretaker told us, ‘I know exactly where he’s buried, and I’ll take you there,'” Robert Kiyawasew recounted.
Provincial documentation indicates that Johnny succumbed to pulmonary tuberculosis in a hospital in High Prairie, his final resting place, which lies over 75 kilometers from the residential school.
Currently, the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, in collaboration with the University of Alberta, is engaged in extensive research aimed at revealing the stories of children like Johnny, including many of his relatives, who attended residential schools but never returned home.
‘It is heartbreaking’
Sheldon Sunshine, chief of the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, stated that research has uncovered that numerous children who attended St. Francis Xavier died from tuberculosis and malnutrition.
“These are not just statistics; they are human lives,” emphasized Sunshine.
“Seeing the names is distressing; it highlights the suffering our people endured, having lost their lives due to the dire living conditions in that institution. It is truly heartbreaking.”
Robert Kiyawasew expressed gratitude that his sister managed to find Johnny’s grave before her passing.
“I make a visit every time I can,” stated Robert Kiyawasew.
“It’s heart-wrenching to see that lonely little grave, standing there all by itself.”
Robert Kiyawasew shares his family’s enduring search for his brother Johnny, who was forced to attend the St. Francis Xavier residential school near Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation.
As a survivor of a day school, Robert Kiyawasew recounted experiencing similar traumas to those faced by his siblings at St. Francis Xavier, including punishment for speaking his own language.
“To treat us Indigenous people as if we don’t exist… that’s not acceptable,” Robert Kiyawasew remarked.
“We have a rightful place in our culture. Our heritage is our right to embrace.”
-
After 50-year search, Inuk mother finds daughter’s grave 2,000 km from home
-
Letitia John died at a residential school. Her identity was lost until now
As noted in the Sturgeon Lake residential school narrative from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR), a summary of the school’s history compiled by the Government of Canada in response to legal actions indicates that at least five children died at the school in 1943.
The document from 1943 states that the school “is deteriorating and poses a health risk to Indigenous children, as well as being a fire hazard,” noting that some student fatalities “last winter” were attributed to “the lack of comfort” due to inadequate heating.
Challenges in obtaining records
Raymond Frogner, the senior director for research and head of archives at the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, explained that records from residential schools are often disorganized, inconsistent, and unreliable.
“Management was handled by church groups, provincial governments, and federal authorities, none of whom coordinated with each other,” Frogner noted.
“It’s akin to reconstructing a jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces.”
Frogner mentioned that many church records are either unavailable, contain incorrect dates, or differ from provincial or federal documents, and when they are located, they are often not released.
Sunshine stated that Sturgeon Lake researchers have frequently been told by church representatives that they will only provide student documents to individuals with familial connections.
“How can you establish family connections when many of them are passing away?” queried Sunshine.
“This truly hampers our ability to obtain that information…. It restricts our efforts to locate all of our children.”
Sunshine affirmed that the First Nation will persist in piecing together the narratives of those children who attended St. Francis Xavier and never returned home.
“If we don’t know the whereabouts of these children, how can we offer closure to their families?” asked Sunshine.
“Discussing intergenerational trauma? This is a part of it.”
A national 24-hour Indian Residential School Crisis Line is accessible at 1-866-925-4419 for emotional and crisis referral support for survivors and those impacted.
Mental health counseling and crisis assistance are also available around the clock through the Hope for Wellness hotline at 1-855-242-3310 or via online chat.
