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Statement on the Marieval and St. Eugene Residential Schools

The discoveries of 751 unmarked graves at the site of the former Marieval Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan and 182 unmarked graves at the site of the former St. Eugene’s Mission School in British Columbia, are more horrific examples of the widespread nature and ongoing traumatic legacy of the residential school system and the policies that supported it. These discoveries also serve as stark reminders that we all still have much to learn about the history of Indigenous peoples. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission identified a need for law societies to ensure that lawyers receive appropriate cultural competency training, including with respect to the history and legacy of residential schools. Over the last few years, the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador has undertaken a series of steps to ensure the implementation of this Call to Action and remains committed to ensuring that the history of Indigenous peoples is presented through their lens and in their voice. Our thoughts are with the Cowessess First Nation, the Lower Kootenay Band and the Ktunaxa Nation, well as the families, communities, survivors, and all others who continue to live with the trauma inflicted by the residential school system.