We here at Shared Value Solutions feel we can contribute to the truth and reconciliation conversation. We are a team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous professionals who have seen and learned much on our journeys – and acknowledge we have so much more to learn and to know.
Starting today, we will share what we are learning about the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Reports. In honour of the 215 children discovered, we will begin with TRC Report Volume 4, Canada's Residential Schools: Missing Children and Unmarked Burials.
From the chapter: "Canada’s Residential Schools: Missing Children and Unmarked Burials is the first systematic effort to record and analyze deaths at the schools, and the presence and condition of student cemeteries, within the regulatory context in which the schools were intended to operate. As part of its work the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada established a National Residential School Student Death Register. Due to gaps in the available data, the register is far from complete. Although the actual number of deaths is believed to be far higher, 3,200 residential school victims have been identified. The analysis also demonstrates that residential school death rates were significantly higher than those for the general Canadian school-aged population."
Some facts from the chapter - which is now obviously out of date:
The scale of this tragedy is hard to grasp. At SVS we often turn to maps in our storytelling efforts.
The NCTR has a striking map that shows all of the residential school locations. Here is a screen shot - but please visit the site to zoom in and look around:
The closest residential school to SVS's home office in Guelph is the former Mohawk Institute Indian Residential School. You can attend a virtual tour of the Mohawk Institute: https://woodlandculturalcentre.ca/tours/
This second map shows the home communities of children who never returned from residential schools. There are no words.
We are a Canadian B Corp, and we assist Indigenous Nations with support throughout regulatory processes surrounding major development projects like mines, hydroelectric facilities, transmission lines, highway expansions, oil and gas pipelines, natural resource transport applications and nuclear power.
We have deep context and experience behind the recommendations we provide, having worked for our clients on almost every major project in Canada over the last 10 years. For us, it’s all about building long-term relationships with our clients. We want to get to know you and what you want to do so we can help you move your plans forward.
Core Services: