Canadian pm offers condolences for finding 215 bodies of indigenous children

Jakarta, CNN Indonesia –

Prime Minister of Canada Justin trudeau mourns the discovery of the bodies of 215 Indigenous children at a former school and boarding school in British Columbia.

“As a father, I can’t imagine what it would be like for my children to leave me,” Trudeau said Tuesday (1/6) in a press release.

Trudeau said the Canadian government would side with and support the existence of Indigenous peoples, and called on ministers to provide assistance.

“Then we have to do to support (schools and housing) survivors and indigenous communities.” Trudeau said.

“Canada will be there to support Indigenous communities, we will see the extent of this trauma and try to provide opportunities for Indigenous families and communities to recover. ” He continued.

According to the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc Nation, the bodies of hundreds of children were students of Kamloops Indian Residential School, which closed in 1978. The school is the largest residential school in Canada.

The school was run by the Catholic Church on behalf of the Canadian government from 1890 to 1969, before Ottawa took over and closed it a decade later.

Meanwhile, official data only records 50 school deaths. Canada’s boarding school system has long been criticized. The school model has been abandoned.

So far, more than 4,100 children have died while attending residential schools in Canada. The 215 bodies recently found are said to be missing among the thousands of children who have died.

The school system is seen as forcibly separating Indigenous Canadian children from their families. A six-year investigation called the school system a “cultural genocide”.

Trudeau said he was devastated by what the Indigenous community has had to endure so far, and said the state will side with them.

“Imagine their community that will never see them again. Think about their hopes, their dreams, their potential, whatever they’ll achieve, ”Trudeau said.

(AFP / FJR)

[Gambas:Video CNN]