Residential schools survivors wonder what Queen’s death may hold for the future

By Mike Albanese

People across the globe are processing very different emotions about the loss of the Queen.

Sue Caribou survived residential school in Canada and says although sad about her death, there is an overwhelming feeling of worry as well.

“I’m a human being and I felt sad about the Queen’s death. What’s going to happen to our future now with treaty rights?” she asked.

Caribou knows that although Residential Schools were enacted by Canada, they were done in the name of the crown. Queen Victoria reigned when the schools began, but Queen Elizabeth the second sat on the crown the longest while residential schools existed in Canada.

“It’s hard to forgive people who have destroyed me, our people. I’m still living it, my children live it and I don’t want my grandchildren to live that hurt.”


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Caribou says she wished the Queen had done more in her rule to address residential schools, and unfulfilled treaties signed between indigenous peoples and the crown.

Assistant Professor of History and Indigenous Studies at the University of Manitoba Sean Carleton says Queen Elizabeth the second was often criticized for taking an inactive, hands-off role in pressuring Canada to honour the treaties that were supposed to be carried out in her name.

He says one could argue King Charles the third has seemed to take a more active interest in indigenous-settler relations, and he may exert more influence in ensuring Canada takes reconciliation more seriously.

“There is the possibility that a new monarch, trying to define his own reign, might play a more active role in reckoning with a lot of the criticism of the British empire. There is always that hope that treaty relationships, that are supposed to be reciprocal,” said Charles. “And for the last 150 so years, that hasn’t been the case in Canada, and the crown deserves the criticism for that, but just because you’ve done things for one way for so long, doesn’t mean you can’t change.”

Carleton says this is a crucial time for Canadians, who can both acknowledge the passing of the Queen, while critically thinking about the impacts of British imperialism and colonialism. He points to the tragedy in James Smith Cree Nation.

“I think it’s important to realize that it’s disappointing that the passing of the Queen eclipsed pressing issues like the tragedies in Saskatchewan because I think we can draw a direct link between the legacies of imperialism, and genocidal policies that Canada undertook in the name of the crown and the symbol of all of that, which is the crown.”

Caribou says she hopes to see King Charles visit unmarked graves in Canada, as the first sign of potential change to come.

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