LAC SEUL FIRST NATION -- The Ministry of Crown-Indigenous Relations announced their support for cultural and spiritual protocols of former Pelican Lake Residential School site.
The locating of unmarked graves at former residential school sited across Canada continues to be a tragic reminder of the abuse that many Indigenous People have experienced.
On Dec. 16, 2021, Chief Clifford Bull of the Lac Seul First Nation, Ontario, and Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, announced funding of $1 million in 2021-2021 for the Lac Seul First nation in support of their efforts behind work focused at addressing historical wrongs and the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual harms related to the legacy of residential schools.
The Government of Canada indicated their continued work with Survivors, Indigenous leaders and their affected families and communities is part of their effort to addressing these historical wrongs.
Bull stated that, "Lac Seul and its partners are very pleased with the positive outcome of the proposal. The Bringing Our Children Home Initiative received funding from Canada, and this funding will support positive relationships throughout our area to bring closure with respect to the missing children who never returned home."
Lac Seul First Nation will work with 33 affiliated northern Ontario communities to establish cultural and spiritual protocols in working with Survivors, intergenerational Survivors, knowledge keepers and leaders as they focus on the location, documentation, mapping, maintenance and commemoration/memorialization of burial sited related to the former Pelican Lake Indian Residential School.
It is said that this community-lead process will ensure that the Lac Seul First Nation to carry out this work in their own way and at their own pace.
This announcement by both groups, is seen as essential to renewing and rebuilding relationships with Indigenous Peoples, Governments, and all Canadians. The Government of Canada has indicated that this process remains a priority in their commitment to addressing the legacy of residential schools and in as shared path to reconciliation.
Honorable Marc Miller, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations concluded by saying, “We will be there to support communities like Lac Seul First Nation to research what happened at former residential schools, including Pelican Lake Residential School. Our thoughts are with those Indigenous children who never returned home, the Survivors, families and communities as they embark on this difficult journey, mourn and heal."