B’yauling Toni, accompanied by Bishop Adam Halkett, and former Children's Home student James R Bird, hangs up the forgotten pair of mocassins. (Submitted/Conrad Naytowhow)

By Nigel Maxwell

Residential schools

Saskatoon man completes 300km journey for residential school victims

Dec 28, 2021 | 4:55 PM

A nearly ten-day trek on snowshoes, through deep snow and freezing temperatures, came to a successful and emotional end late Tuesday afternoon.

B’yauling Toni, 21, arrived at the site of the former Timber Bay Children’s Home and delivered the forgotten pair of mocassins.

His journey started on Dec. 18th, when he left his home and began the 300km trek to Timber Bay, a small hamlet near Montreal Lake Cree Nation. The goal was two-part, supporting residential school survivors and also drawing attention to the need to have the Timber Bay Children’s Home officially declared a residential school.

The school ran from 1952 to 1994 but has been denied designation as an official Residential school because federal funds were transferred to the Province of Saskatchewan, who then paid the church to run the school rather than directly from the federal government to the church.

The former school has also been denied designation because it is not found within the borders of a reserve but lies just 18 km outside Montreal Lake Cree Nation. Numerous court challenges have been made to acknowledge the school by survivors over the past 20 years to no avail.

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Toni receives a police escort. (Submitted/ Conrad Naytowhow)

There to greet Toni on Tuesday were a number of dignitaries and supporters including Montreal Lake Cree Nation Chief Joyce McLeod-Naytowhow, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation Chief Karen Bird, and Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson.

Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte and Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) Chief Bobby Cameron also snowshoed during the final stretch with Toni. In a statement, Cameron explained Toni is showing the world true reconciliation.

“We also know that compensation and recognition allow individuals to move forward on their healing journey. The denial of designation is atrocious, Timber Bay survivors deserve our respect, and Toni has successfully showed us all what the power of one individual can do,” he said.

Allen Morrow brought a blanket for the school’s survivors. (Submitted/Conrad Naytowhow)

On behalf of the PAGC Executive and the PAGC’s 12 Chiefs, Hardlotte said he commended Toni’s courage and bravery, and for his efforts to bring attention to the outstanding issue of ensuring the survivors of the Timber Bay Children’s Home are recognized and compensated.

“The survivors have struggled for years to be acknowledged, and we will continue to support them and meet with the federal government in order to reverse this decision,” he said.

Lac La Ronge Indian Band initially led the fight to have the school added to the Indian residential school settlement through lobbying efforts since 2007 with the case reaching the Supreme Court of Canada but losing due to technicalities. A working group has since been in place to continue the campaign.

The Timber Bay Working Group is comprised of former students of the Timber Bay Children’s Home, located near the Montreal Lake Cree Nation.

The group is leading legal efforts expended on behalf of the survivors on having Timber Bay Children’s Home named as a Residential School under the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA), which would then entitle survivors to avail themselves of the compensation scheme outlined in the agreement. Chair Eldon Henderson, who is also a Montreal Lake Cree Nation Councillor, expressed his gratitude for Toni’s efforts.

“He sacrificed his Christmas holidays and demonstrated his commitment and determination for this important cause,” he said, adding he would like to invite Toni to the unveiling of the Timber Bay Residential School Monument Project next summer that will honour past and present survivors of Timber Bay Children’s Home.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell