76. We call upon the parties engaged in the work of documenting, maintaining, commemorating, and protecting residential school cemeteries to adopt strategies in accordance with the following principles:
i. The Aboriginal community most affected shall lead the development of such strategies.
ii. Information shall be sought from residential school Survivors and other Knowledge Keepers in the development of such strategies.
iii. Aboriginal protocols shall be respected before any potentially invasive technical inspection and investigation of a cemetery site
In order for residential school cemeteries to follow cultural practices and to respect the lives lost, it is highly important that the Aboriginal communities that were most affected shall lead the development of such strategies. Not only will this ensure proper cultural practices, it will also give community members a chance to heal through reconciliation. Also, by having information obtained from residential school survivors and knowledge keepers in the development of such strategies, it redresses the legacy of residential schools and helps in the process of reconciliation across Canada.
Further Reading:
A History of Residential Schools in Canada, CBC.ca
Compiled by: Nicole Elie