After attending the Catholic-run St. Francis Xavier Residential School in Calais, Alta., 11-year-old Johnny Kiyawasew passed away in a small town hospital in northern Alberta in 1943. His family from Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation was unaware of his fate for decades, as the church did not inform them about his death or burial.
In 2013, Johnny’s older sister Roseann, with the help of a private investigator, located his gravesite in High Prairie, where he succumbed to pulmonary tuberculosis. Over 75 kilometers away from the residential school, Johnny’s final resting place was eventually found.
Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation and the University of Alberta are now engaged in in-depth research to uncover the stories of children like Johnny, who attended residential schools but never returned home. Chief Sheldon Sunshine revealed that research indicates many children at St. Francis Xavier died from tuberculosis and malnutrition, emphasizing that these were not just statistics but real people with heartbreaking stories.
Robert Kiyawasew, Johnny’s younger brother, expressed gratitude that his sister was able to find Johnny’s grave before her passing. He visits the lonely gravesite regularly, reflecting on the lost lives of children who never made it back from the residential school.
As a survivor of day school himself, Robert Kiyawasew shared his similar experiences of mistreatment and language suppression. He emphasized the importance of preserving Native culture and heritage, asserting that Indigenous people have the right to their traditions.
Residential school records have proven challenging to obtain, as Raymond Frogner from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation explained. The records, managed by various entities, are often disorganized and incomplete, making it difficult to piece together the full picture of what happened at these institutions.
Chief Sunshine highlighted the obstacles faced by researchers in accessing church records, which are sometimes withheld or only released to individuals with direct family ties. This limitation hinders efforts to uncover the truth about children who never returned from the residential school.
Despite these challenges, Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation remains committed to unraveling the stories of these lost children, seeking closure for families affected by the intergenerational trauma caused by the residential school system. The First Nation acknowledges the importance of preserving these stories and honoring the memories of those who suffered in these institutions.