NOTE: The residential school system is a topic that may cause trauma invoked by memories of past abuse. The Government of Canada recognizes the need for safety measures to minimize the risk associated with triggering. A National Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for former residential school students. You can access information on the website or access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-Hour National Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419.

This commemoration is an important part of the Government of Canada’s response to Call to Action 79 in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report.

 

September 30, 2024             Saint-Marc-de-Figuery, Quebec            Parks Canada

The Amos residential school was part of a system of residential schools for Indigenous children officially established by the federal government in the 19th and 20th centuries. This system spread across Canada in the 1880s and existed until the late 1990s. Born of colonial policies in Canadian history, the residential school system is a tragedy that has adversely affected generations of Indigenous peoples, with lasting repercussions on First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities, cultures, economies, traditional knowledge and ways of life, languages, family structures and ties to the land.

Parks Canada, the survivors of the Amos residential school, and the Abitibiwinni First Nation Council, today recognized the national historic significance of the Amos residential school. Two plaques were unveiled at a ceremony in Saint-Marc-de-Figuery. The announcement was made on behalf of Steven Guilbeault, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada.

Between 1955 and 1973, Anicinapek and Atikamekw Nehirowisiw children were uprooted from their families and placed in a residential school in Amos. The Canadian government built this residential school in Saint-Marc-de-Figuery on the traditional territory of the Anicinape Nation. The children were subjected to abuse, strict discipline and severe punishment. All structures associated with the Amos residential school have been demolished. In 2013, the survivors and the Abitibiwinni First Nation Council installed a commemorative stele and interpretive panels on the site of the former residential school, with the aim of making this a place of remembrance and healing.

Through the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada and Parks Canada, the Government of Canada commemorates the significant people, places and events that shaped our country to help Canadians and youth connect with their past. The commemoration process relies heavily on public nominations. To date, over 2,260 designations have been made.

On this National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, Canadians across the country are taking the time to reflect on this tragic history, acknowledge the past, honour missing children and recognize the extraordinary strength and resilience of the survivors and all Indigenous peoples. The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that the voices of Indigenous peoples are heard, and that this history is never forgotten.

                                                                                                -30-