Historical Report

Once places of brutal violence, genocide, and mass human rights violations, they are now sites of conscience that Canada and all Canadians must remember so this can never happen again. Building on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s work, this Historical Report illustrates how settler colonial laws and policies led to the deaths of Indigenous children and to the neglect, abandonment, and desecration of their burial sites. Indigenous children in the care and custody of the State were forcibly transferred to and died at multiple associated institutions, including sanitoria, reformatories, homes for unwed mothers, mental health institutions, and institutions for children with disabilities.

This historical Report traces the life histories of many Indigenous children to illustrate the importance of finding the truth, restoring human dignity to the children, and commemorating their burial sites. As Survivors, Indigenous families, and communities gather evidence from Survivors’ testimonies, forensic ground searches, and archival records, understanding how these institutions functioned together is critical to finding the missing and disappeared children and their burial sites.

Exposing these records, as painful as it is to read them, is a powerful antidote to denialism and will help Canadians to understand why truth, accountability, justice, and reparations are essential to reconciliation. This historical Report will serve as a catalyst for further research to support this Sacred work moving forward.