I want to acknowledge the absolutely numbing report of the 751 unmarked graves of Indigenous adults and children at the site of a residential school in Saskatchewan. We cannot stay numbed however. We also know this will not be the final report of this type that reflects the legacy of residential schools. Given that residential schools result in trauma passed from generation to generation, and that some say it takes seven generations to heal, non-Indigenous peoples have much to do to work towards reconciliation.

Besides offering our condolences to Indigenous communities and colleagues, we must support healing through acts of reconciliation such as understanding the past, recognizing treaty agreements, building equitable relationships and supporting the restoration of Indigenous peoples language and culture.

For anyone who would like resources to undertake this work of understanding and recognition, please take the time to look at Shelia Cote-Meek’s letter to the York Community to mark this month, which is National Indigenous History Month.

Sharon Murphy, PhD.
Gender Pronouns she/her
Professor & Interim Dean
Faculty of Education

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