September 28, 2021

National Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding Schools – Sept 30

In solidarity with communities in the U.S. and Canada, we will be working with local Native activists honoring September 30 as a National Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding Schools at the Canadian Consulate in Los Angeles. We must acknowledge the ongoing trauma of the Federal Indian Boarding School Policies so that they can be rectified and held to account.

National Day of Remembrance for Children Unearthed at Indian Boarding Schools in Canada and the US – September 30

National Day of Remembrance - Indian Boarding Schools Sept 30

LOS ANGELES — In solidarity with communities in the U.S. and Canada, we will be honoring September 30 as a National Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding Schools at the Canadian Consulate. We must acknowledge the ongoing trauma of the Federal Indian Boarding School Policies so that they can be rectified and held to account.

 

Opened in 1893, the Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia had once been the largest residential school in Canada, a national program which ran until 1996. The aim of this network of schools was to eliminate Indigenous language and culture and replace them with English and Christian beliefs respectively. More children have been found in both Canada and the US and the total is now 6,509, having died amid abuse and neglect while in the residential school system. Sadly, this is a modern-day genocide.

 

We have gathered 215 pairs of children’s shoes to represent the first 215 children unearthed at Kamloops and all the relatives from Canadian and U.S. Boarding Schools that continue to be found.

 

School children from Southern California, representing the Eagle and the Condor Tribal people, will deliver a letter to the Canadian Consulate – before the offices close at 4:30.

 

We support the United States Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland’s Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative which will serve as an investigation about the loss of human life and the lasting consequences of residential Indian boarding schools.

 

We support the Cherokee Nation, Oneida Nation, Quinault Indian Nation, and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians in their petition to the US Supreme Court to uphold the Indian Child Welfare Act to protect Native children, families, and tribal sovereignty.

 

WHAT: National Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding Schools

WHEN: Meet at 2 PM, Pray at 2:15 PM

WHERE: Canadian Consulate, 550 South Hope Street, Downtown Los Angeles

WHO: Youth, concerned community members, scientists, and activists

 

FOR: All the children found in graves, and yet to be discovered, at residential boarding schools;

All children suffering in migrant, human trafficking detention centers, and foster care systems;

All missing Indigenous children

 

How can you support and participate in this event?

Bring your written prayer tied to the pair of children’s shoes

– drive by for drop off curb side –

We will be there to set up at –

1:30…to begin at 2 PM.

 

Political Engagement: We encourage you to reach out to your Tribal Council, Senators, Representatives, national, state, and local politicians and speak with them about the history of Indian Boarding Schools, how they have impacted your family, and what you would like to see done on the topic. You can set a meeting with legislators, send emails, or start a letter or phone campaign.

 

#EveryChildMatters

#IndigenousPeopleStillHere

#EndExtractiveProfits

#WaterIsLife

#HonorTheTreaties

#NoMoreStolenSisters

#LandBack

SoCal 350 Climate Action, an affiliate of the national climate change organization 350.org, organizes, activates, and engages across class, gender, racial, and ethnic lines to build a mass movement across Southern California for a healthy climate and a 100% clean energy future with full employment.