(Submitted photo/ Prince Albert Grand Council)

By paNOW Staff

Chiefs meet with federal minister to request Timber Bay Children’s Home be recognized as residential school

Feb 7, 2022 | 6:30 PM

Woodland Chiefs from numerous First Nation communities are once again asking the federal government to recognize Timber Bay Children’s Home as a residential school.

Last week on Feb. 4, the woodland Chiefs including Prince Albert Grand Council Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte, 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 met via a virtual meeting with Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Marc Miller to talk about this issue of Timber Bay. Chief Bobby Cameron of the Federation of Sovereign Nations was also in the meeting.

They also are requesting the same federal compensation other survivors from residential schools have received.

“We all left the meeting feeling confident that Minister Miller heard the voices of our Chiefs on this matter,” said Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte. “For too long we have argued that Canada needs to assume responsibility of this institution, because the children were placed there away from the family by or under the authority of Canada for the purpose of education; and, that they were jointly or solely responsible for the operation of the residence and care of the children resident there.”

During the meeting they provided the minister with a background on the history of the school, and arguments to be included into the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA). It also included constitutional issues.

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“Since it opened in 1952, Timber Bay Children’s Home was a place where children were sent as overflow from Prince Albert Residential School and others in the area. For example, a brother began his road to reconciliation under the IRSSA; whereas, his sister who was sent away to Timber Bay is suspended in the continued trauma as we fight for recognition and reconciliation despite the obvious wrongs that occurred,” said Chief Joyce McLeod-Naytowhow.

“Based on the non-delegable fiduciary duty, owed by Canada, to protect the health and welfare of Indigenous children sent off-reserve for education pursuant to Treaty 6, the children that attended this institution are eligible for recognition, reconciliation, and compensation. We do not have to prove that this policy was wrong – we have to compensate for that wrongdoing,” said Chief Tammy Cook-Searson.

In December, a 21-year-old man from Saskatoon B’yauling Toni walked over 300 kilometres in snowshoes to Timber Bay School near Montreal Lake Cree Nation to deliver “The Forgotten Pair of Moccasins.” He did the long trek to raise awareness for the school to be recognized as a residential school.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow