A British Columbia First Nation says at least 55 children died or disappeared while attending a residential school near Williams Lake, more than triple the number recorded for the institution in the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation memorial register.
The higher figure is contained in an interim report into the St. Joseph’s Mission Indian Residential School by the Williams Lake First Nation.
The report says the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation memorial register lists 16 children by name as having died while under the school’s care.
It says the additional 39 deaths or disappearances were verified “through archival documentation.”
The system started to be phased out in the early 70s, with the last federally funded residential school was closed in 1996 (although there are also the issues caused by day schools to consider). There is absolutely still people around who had a significant part in the system, both in organization and administration, as well as staff directly in the system. To my knowledge, none, or nearly none have been prosecuted for their involvement in the schools.