Members of the Presbyterian and United Church communities in Regina have joined with indigenous peoples to commemorate a cemetery on the grounds of the former Regina Industrial School. The Presbyterian Church in Canada ran the residential school from 1891 to 1910.
The project aims to honour the memories of the children who are buried there. The initiative has included presentations made to city hall by the members of the Presbyterian Church and other citizens in early April, as well as a letter to the mayor of Regina from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s chair, Justice Murray Sinclair. The letter outlines the need for better standards from the city in regards to caring for the cemetery grounds, as well as the need to conserve the heritage of the land.
“As churches whose predecessors had been instrumental in operating this residential school, we felt it important to be involved in this opportunity for reconciliation,” said Mary Jesse, a member of the group that has been meeting regularly in regards to this project.
“There is an important link between the PCC and this school,” she said. “Almost 50 children from Mistawasis Reserve in Northern Saskatchewan attended this school. Mistawasis Memorial Presbyterian Church has been on the reserve for over 100 years.”
The group is connecting with native communities, providing information and discussing how they are moving forward, explained Jesse, a member of First, Regina. The hope is that the cemetery be commemorated and that this will be an opportunity for reconciliation with the native community.
The city has said while it doesn’t wish to be involved in the commemoration, it is not opposed to it.
