{"id":47713,"date":"2022-01-04T11:33:09","date_gmt":"2022-01-04T11:33:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/?p=47713"},"modified":"2025-12-05T16:16:22","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T16:16:22","slug":"the-horrors-of-canadas-history-the-unmarked-indigenous-graves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-horrors-of-canadas-history-the-unmarked-indigenous-graves\/","title":{"rendered":"The horrors of Canada&#8217;s history: the unmarked indigenous graves"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>In May 2021, <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/canada\/\"><strong>Canada<\/strong><\/a><strong> was rocked by the discovery of an unmarked gravesite designated for over 200 indigenous children (Cecco, Michael &amp; Voce, 2021). The burial ground, located on the premises of a former school in British Columbia, is testimony to the country\u2019s historic segregation of <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/canadas-indigenous-children\/\"><strong>indigenous children<\/strong><\/a><strong> from mainstream society and the flagrant abuse of children at the hands of government-sanctioned programs. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Over a thousand unmarked graves have since been discovered, prompting national action towards reconciliation and the restoration of invaluable pillars of indigenous communities. With modern <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/canadas-indigenous-children\/\"><strong>indigenous communities<\/strong><\/a><strong> still suffering from the atrocities, the restorative process presents valuable lessons on reconciliation.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Grave after grave<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Following the cornerstone discovery of 215 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/canadas-indigenous-children\/\">indigenous child<\/a> gravesites in May, over 1,300 unmarked graves have been identified across <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/canada\/\">Canada<\/a> (Cecco, 2020). These sites are exclusively remnants of former government-funded residential schools and paint a harrowing picture of the country\u2019s colonial past. The largest discovery in Saskatchewan exposed the existence of 751 unmarked graves, demonstrating both the scale of this practice and indicating that sizable further discoveries are likely to be made (BBC News, 2021).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These sites have likely existed for tens to hundreds of years; a recent discovery of 160 unmarked graves on the Kuper Island industrial school site stated that the institute served from 1890 to 1975 (Cecco, 2021). Beyond the scale of these tragic discoveries, further research suggests that some of the concealed bodies belonged to children as young as three years old (Cecco, Michael &amp; Voce, 2021).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Colonial oppression, indigenous suppression<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Canada hosts three categories of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/canadas-indigenous-children\/\">indigenous people<\/a> recognised by its constitution: Inuit, M\u00e9tis and First Nations. These populations inhibit different geographies of the country: Inuit communities based in the North, M\u00e9tis in the Prairie Provinces and First Nations\u2019 populations &#8211; the original inhabitants of the land &#8211; typically occupying territories south of the Arctic (Filice &amp; Parrott, 2020). \u2018First Nations\u2019 is a term used to encompass the largest indigenous group, which included 634 communities who originally inhabited the majority of present day <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/canada\/\">Canada<\/a> (Cecco, Michal &amp; Voce, 2021).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/canadas-indigenous-children\/\">Indigenous<\/a> populations were placed under strict control and faced nationwide persecution following the Indian Act of 1876. This seminal piece of legislation forced indigenous populations to inhabit designated reserves, restricting their movement and forcing families and children out of their existing homes (Cecco, Michael &amp; Voce, 2021). Adults and children alike were further driven into institutions designed to strip them of their cultural heritage, language, identity and practices (Cecco, Michael &amp; Voce, 2021).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Residential schools &#8211; a destructive curriculum&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The first residential school in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/canada\/\">Canada<\/a> was Mohawk Institute, opened in 1831 to forcibly separate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/canadas-indigenous-children\/\">indigenous children<\/a> from their families and institutionalise them away from cultural traditions (National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, 2020). This institution was church-run and government funded, emphasising the comprehensive national support for its aims (National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, 2021). The school marked the beginning of a heinous 165 year era in which seven generations of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/canadas-indigenous-children\/\">indigenous children<\/a> were segregated from their families and coerced into attending residential schools (National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, 2020).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1920, a revision to the Indian Act forced Treaty-status children aged 5-7 to attend residential schools (National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, 2021). Over 150,000 children were sent to these oppressive institutions, designed to strip them of their youth and cultural <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/identity\/\">identity<\/a> (Cecco, 2020). Known for their brutality and open maltreatment of children, these schools prevented children from speaking their native tongue or practicing cultural habits (BBC News, 2021).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"734\" src=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/shutterstock_2065669019-1024x734.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47715\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/shutterstock_2065669019-1024x734.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/shutterstock_2065669019-300x215.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/shutterstock_2065669019-768x550.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/shutterstock_2065669019-1536x1101.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/shutterstock_2065669019-2048x1468.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/shutterstock_2065669019-830x595.jpg 830w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/shutterstock_2065669019-230x165.jpg 230w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/shutterstock_2065669019-350x251.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/shutterstock_2065669019-480x344.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Residential schools were known to be overcrowded, underfunded and accepting of blatant child abuse, with little to no accountability placed on staff (National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, 2021). Thousands of children fell victim to physical, sexual and mental <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/abuse\/\">abuse<\/a> at the hands of residential staff, exacerbated by the fact that children were often far-removed from family. In some cases, such as for children at St. Eugene school in British Columbia, children had to travel further than 1,000km to attend these schools (Cecco, Michael &amp; Voce, 2021).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission stated that a lot more than 3,200 children are likely to have died at residential schools, as that conservative estimate is based on a fraction of the schools in the country which have been investigated (Cecco, Michael &amp; Voce, 2021). These children are likely to have died from disease, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/abuse\/\">neglect<\/a> and suicide (Cecco, Michael &amp; Voce, 2021).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Indigenous rights &#8211; the road to recovery<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007, The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/international-day-of-the-world-indigenous-peoples\/\">Declaration on the Rights of indigenous Peoples<\/a> enshrines the minimum standards for the \u201csurvival, dignity and well-being\u201d of indigenous people across the world (National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, 2021). While not legally binding on Canada\u2019s domestic mechanisms and frameworks, in 2016 Canada endorsed the Declaration and committed to its full implementation (Government of Canada, 2021).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2020, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/canada\/\">Canada<\/a> introduced legislation to implement the Declaration, providing a roadmap for its implementation (Government of Canada, 2021). Among other initiatives, this has birthed projects working to: revitalise and protect indigenous languages; recover and safeguard environmental areas tied to indigenous lineage; reduce the number of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/canadas-indigenous-children\/\">indigenous children<\/a> in care; and improve access to justice (Government of Canada, 2021).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These initiatives have drawn wide support from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/canada\/\">Canadian<\/a> population. Annually, on September 30th, the country embraces a national awareness campaign for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/canadas-indigenous-children\/\">indigenous<\/a> rights by wearing orange shirts. On this day, established in 2013 &#8211; known as \u201cOrange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters\u201d &#8211; Canadians observe, promote and raise awareness on the history and legacy of the residential school system and the impact it has had on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/canadas-indigenous-children\/\">indigenous community<\/a> in Canada (University of British Columbia, 2021).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Orange Shirt Day was inspired by Phyllis Jack Webstad &#8211; a Stswecem\u2019c Xgat\u2019tem First Nation and a former residential school student of St Joseph\u2019s in 1973. The significance of the orange shirt was a personal clothing item worn by Phyllis that was stripped from her during her first day at the residential school. This became a symbol of Canada\u2019s continued progress to reconcile historical atrocities (University of British Columbia, 2021). The Canadian government has accordingly responded to calls from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission by nominating September 30th as a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (University of British Columbia, 2021).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The importance of truth and reconciliation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Moving forward, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/canada\/\">Canada\u2019s<\/a> Truth and Reconciliation Commission continues to work towards repairing some of the damage caused by what the commission calls \u201ca cultural genocide\u201d (National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, 2021). The Commission has issued 94 calls to action, drawing $28 million dollars (CAD) from the government in 2019 to support and implement national recommendations on deaths at the various residential school premises (Al Jazeera, 2021). This process is challenging, and the continued discovery of child graves raises pertinent questions about how to obtain DNA from family members and honour child graves and their remains (Cecco, 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br>Among its actions, the Commission has provided victims (both direct and indirect) of the residential school system with the opportunity to share their experiences and raise awareness of how past atrocities continue to blight modern communities (Government of Canada, 2021). In 2007, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/canada\/\">Canada\u2019s<\/a> largest class-action settlement was initiated, in an attempt to realise mass reconciliation of past wrongdoings (Government of Canada, 2021).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The tale of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/canada\/\">Canada\u2019s<\/a> residential school victims is indicative of the inseparable links between historical child abuses and modern-day experiences. The effects of Canada\u2019s attempted ethnic eradication of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/canadas-indigenous-children\/\">indigenous<\/a> culture remain as relevant in 2021 as they were a century ago. As the country works to build bridges, the reconciliation process presents lessons worth studying across the globe.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/shutterstock_464618888-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47714\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/shutterstock_464618888-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/shutterstock_464618888-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/shutterstock_464618888-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/shutterstock_464618888-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/shutterstock_464618888-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/shutterstock_464618888-830x553.jpg 830w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/shutterstock_464618888-230x153.jpg 230w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/shutterstock_464618888-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/shutterstock_464618888-480x320.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/shutterstock_464618888-272x182.jpg 272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Humanium, as a member of Child Rights Connect, the organization that drafted the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/convention\/text\/\">UN Convention on the Rights of the Child<\/a>, strongly engages in protecting vulnerable children worldwide. Humanium works for a world where children&#8217;s rights are universally and effectively respected, protected and enforced in all circumstances involving a child. You can help raise awareness on children\u2019s issues in the world by supporting Humanium \u2013 through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/child-sponsorship\/\">sponsoring a child<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/donation\/\">making a donation<\/a>, becoming a member or a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/participate\/volunteer\/\">volunteer<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Written by Vanessa Cezarita Cordeiro&nbsp;<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">References:&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/2021\/8\/10\/canada-pledges-millions-to-search-for-unmarked-indigenous-graves\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Al Jazeera News. (2021, August 10). \u201dCanada pledges millions to search for residential school graves\u201d. Retrieved from Al Jazeera News, accessed on 9 October 2021.&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/world-us-canada-57592243\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BBC News. (2021, June 24). \u201cCanada: 751 unmarked graves found at residential school\u201d, Retrieved from BBC News, accessed on 8 October 2021.&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/ng-interactive\/2021\/sep\/06\/canada-residential-schools-indigenous-children-cultural-genocide-map\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cecco, L., Michael, C., &amp; Voce, A. (2021, September 6). \u201c\u00b4Cultural genocide\u00b4: the shameful history of Canada\u00b4s residential schools &#8211; mapped\u201d. Retrieved from The Guardian , accessed on 8 October 2021.&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/global-development\/2021\/jul\/26\/canada-indigenous-forensic-pathologist-unmarked-graves\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cecco, L. (2020, July 26). \u201cThose children could be my relatives\u00b4: Canada\u00b4s first indigenous forensic pathologist on unmarked graves\u201d. Retrieved from The Guardian, accessed on 8 October 2021).&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/global-development\/2021\/jul\/13\/canada-unmarked-graves-british-columbia-residential-school\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cecco, L. (2021, July 13). \u201cCanada: at least 160 more unmarked graves found in British Columbia\u201d. Retrieved from The Guardian, accessed on 9 October 2021.&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldpoliticsreview.com\/articles\/29996\/with-unmarked-graves-at-residential-schools-canada-faces-a-moment-of-truth\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Duhamel, K. (2021, September 28). \u201cUnmarked graves are a moment of truth for Canada &#8211; Indigenous reconciliation\u201d Retrieved from World Politics Review, accessed on 9 October 2021.&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca\/en\/article\/aboriginal-people\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Filice, M., Parrott, Z. (2020, May 28). \u201cIndigenous peoples in Canada\u201d. Retrieved from <em>The Canadian Encyclopedia<\/em>, accessed on 9 October 2021.&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca\/eng\/1450124405592\/1529106060525\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Government of Canada. (2021, June 11). \u201cTruth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada . Retrieved from the Government of Canada, <em>Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada<\/em>, accessed on 8 October 2021.&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gc.ca\/eng\/declaration\/action.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Government of Canada, \u201cThe United Nations Declaration on the Rights of indigenous Peoples\u201d, Retrieved from the Government of Canada, <em>Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of indigenous Peoples\u201d, <\/em>accessed on 12 October 2021.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/quakerservice.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/UNDRIP_Handbook_IBA.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Indigenous Bar Association. (2011). \u201cUnderstanding and implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. An introductory handbook.\u201d Retrieved from the Indigenous Bar Association and <em>University of Manitoba Faculty of Law, <\/em>accessed on 8 October 2021).&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canadashistory.ca\/getmedia\/577a962b-efe4-407d-8592-6240945d6658\/EveryChildMattersENDigital.pdf.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. (2020). \u201dEvery child matters reconciliation through education\u201d. Retrieved from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and the <em>University of Manitoba,&nbsp; <\/em>accessed on 9 October 2021.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nctr.ca\/education\/teaching-resources\/residential-school-history\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. (n.d). \u201cResidential school history\u201d. &nbsp;Retrieved from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and the <em>University of Manitoba<\/em>, accessed on 8 October 2021.&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nctr.ca\/education\/teaching-resources\/united-nations-declaration-on-the-rights-of-indigenous-peoples\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. (n.d). \u201cUnited Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.\u201d &nbsp;Retrieved from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and the <em>University of Manitoba<\/em>, accessed on 9 October 2021.&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/irshdc.ubc.ca\/orangeshirtday\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">University of British Columbia. (n.d). \u201cEvery child matters. Orange shirt day national day for truth and reconciliation\u201d. Retrieved from the University of British Columbia and <em>Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre<\/em>, accessed on 9 October 2021.&nbsp;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In May 2021, Canada was rocked by the discovery of an unmarked gravesite designated for over 200 indigenous children (Cecco, Michael &amp; Voce, 2021). The burial ground, located on the premises of a former school in British Columbia, is testimony to the country\u2019s historic segregation of indigenous children from mainstream society and the flagrant abuse [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":47716,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[152,7,164,10,161,144],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-47713","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-childrens-rights","category-education-programmes","category-exploitation","category-health","category-indigenous-people","category-violence"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The horrors of Canada&#039;s history: the unmarked indigenous graves - Humanium<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In May 2021, Canada was rocked by the discovery of an unmarked gravesite designated for over 200 indigenous children .\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-horrors-of-canadas-history-the-unmarked-indigenous-graves\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The horrors of Canada&#039;s history: the unmarked indigenous graves - Humanium\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In May 2021, Canada was rocked by the discovery of an unmarked gravesite designated for over 200 indigenous children .\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-horrors-of-canadas-history-the-unmarked-indigenous-graves\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Humanium\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-01-04T11:33:09+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-12-05T16:16:22+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/shutterstock_2067688376-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1703\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Vanessa Cezarita Cordeiro\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Vanessa Cezarita Cordeiro\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-horrors-of-canadas-history-the-unmarked-indigenous-graves\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-horrors-of-canadas-history-the-unmarked-indigenous-graves\/\",\"name\":\"The horrors of Canada's history: the unmarked indigenous graves - Humanium\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-horrors-of-canadas-history-the-unmarked-indigenous-graves\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-horrors-of-canadas-history-the-unmarked-indigenous-graves\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/shutterstock_2067688376-scaled.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-01-04T11:33:09+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-12-05T16:16:22+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/ad4850c64b0569374badb56998a78b91\"},\"description\":\"In May 2021, Canada was rocked by the discovery of an unmarked gravesite designated for over 200 indigenous children .\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-horrors-of-canadas-history-the-unmarked-indigenous-graves\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-horrors-of-canadas-history-the-unmarked-indigenous-graves\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-horrors-of-canadas-history-the-unmarked-indigenous-graves\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/shutterstock_2067688376-scaled.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/shutterstock_2067688376-scaled.jpg\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":1703},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-horrors-of-canadas-history-the-unmarked-indigenous-graves\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"The horrors of Canada&#8217;s history: the unmarked indigenous graves\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/\",\"name\":\"Humanium\",\"description\":\"Children first!\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/ad4850c64b0569374badb56998a78b91\",\"name\":\"Vanessa Cezarita Cordeiro\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8b9e399c5cef0deb8a55441dc919498179ad198511a279b0c9dd41035293e4a2?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8b9e399c5cef0deb8a55441dc919498179ad198511a279b0c9dd41035293e4a2?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Vanessa Cezarita Cordeiro\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/vanessa-cezarita-cordeiro-5655aa123\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/author\/author_vanessacezaritacordeiro\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The horrors of Canada's history: the unmarked indigenous graves - Humanium","description":"In May 2021, Canada was rocked by the discovery of an unmarked gravesite designated for over 200 indigenous children .","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-horrors-of-canadas-history-the-unmarked-indigenous-graves\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"The horrors of Canada's history: the unmarked indigenous graves - Humanium","og_description":"In May 2021, Canada was rocked by the discovery of an unmarked gravesite designated for over 200 indigenous children .","og_url":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-horrors-of-canadas-history-the-unmarked-indigenous-graves\/","og_site_name":"Humanium","article_published_time":"2022-01-04T11:33:09+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-12-05T16:16:22+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2560,"height":1703,"url":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/shutterstock_2067688376-scaled.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Vanessa Cezarita Cordeiro","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Vanessa Cezarita Cordeiro","Estimated reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-horrors-of-canadas-history-the-unmarked-indigenous-graves\/","url":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-horrors-of-canadas-history-the-unmarked-indigenous-graves\/","name":"The horrors of Canada's history: the unmarked indigenous graves - Humanium","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-horrors-of-canadas-history-the-unmarked-indigenous-graves\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-horrors-of-canadas-history-the-unmarked-indigenous-graves\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/shutterstock_2067688376-scaled.jpg","datePublished":"2022-01-04T11:33:09+00:00","dateModified":"2025-12-05T16:16:22+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/ad4850c64b0569374badb56998a78b91"},"description":"In May 2021, Canada was rocked by the discovery of an unmarked gravesite designated for over 200 indigenous children .","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-horrors-of-canadas-history-the-unmarked-indigenous-graves\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-horrors-of-canadas-history-the-unmarked-indigenous-graves\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-horrors-of-canadas-history-the-unmarked-indigenous-graves\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/shutterstock_2067688376-scaled.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/shutterstock_2067688376-scaled.jpg","width":2560,"height":1703},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-horrors-of-canadas-history-the-unmarked-indigenous-graves\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The horrors of Canada&#8217;s history: the unmarked indigenous graves"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/","name":"Humanium","description":"Children first!","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/ad4850c64b0569374badb56998a78b91","name":"Vanessa Cezarita Cordeiro","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8b9e399c5cef0deb8a55441dc919498179ad198511a279b0c9dd41035293e4a2?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8b9e399c5cef0deb8a55441dc919498179ad198511a279b0c9dd41035293e4a2?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Vanessa Cezarita Cordeiro"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/vanessa-cezarita-cordeiro-5655aa123\/"],"url":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/author\/author_vanessacezaritacordeiro\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47713","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/40"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47713"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47713\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":86947,"href":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47713\/revisions\/86947"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/47716"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47713"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47713"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47713"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}