FORT MCMURRAY (660 NEWS) – Wood Buffalo RCMP is searching for whoever is responsible for tampering with a memorial for residential school victims.
The memorial – which included hundreds of pairs of shoes and other meaningful items – was put in place in front of the Jubilee Centre on Franklin Avenue in the wake of the discovery of thousands of unmarked graves at former residential school sites across Canada.
Mounties responded to a report of mischief on Saturday and discovered that sometime that same afternoon or evening, the memorial was unlawfully disassembled.
“The shoes were removed from their place on the stairs and placed in a pile around a near-by flower bed with a sign stating: ‘Garage Sale, all items free’,” reads a press release from Wood Buffalo RCMP.
The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, McMurray Métis, and Athabasca Tribal Council have issued a joint press release strongly condemning the incident.
“This shameful act of vandalism and racism holds no place in our region – we can’t sit idly by when racism happens in our community,” said Mayor Don Scott.
“We must all speak out and condemn these acts in the strongest terms possible. An act like this is intolerable in our region – and it serves as a clear reminder that stronger action is needed to advance reconciliation. We must all continue to listen to the truth, educate ourselves and take daily steps that bring us closer to reconciliation, while continuing to support survivors and their families.”
The memorial at the Jubilee Centre was supposed to stay in place until September 30, which is Orange Shirt Day and earlier this year the Federal Government declared it a statutory holiday known as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
“McMurray Métis was deeply saddened that someone would be so heartless to remove this beautiful memorial in honour of residential school victims and all the Indigenous children’s lives that were lost,” stated McMurray Métis President Peter Hansen.
“We hope that the following days leading up to Orange Shirt Day on September 30 will be filled with reflection on the true history of Canada and the tragedy that has occurred over the Summer with all the unmarked graves that were found and are still yet to be discovered. McMurray Métis continues to be an advocate for education and we encourage everyone in the RMWB to participate in the Reconciliation Challenge and learn more about Indigenous people and end racism towards them.”
Athabasca Tribal Council Chief Allan Adam is encouraging residents to show support and sign the Orange Path petition.
“The recent vandalism of the memorial for residential school victims highlights the racism we fight every day,” he stated.
“When ignorant acts are combined with dishonouring the memorials of the children that died in residential schools, the trauma to residential school survivors, their families and our communities continues. The memorial has been used to honour the memories of those who died in residential school. We hope that the individual or individuals of such a disgraceful act are brought to justice through the RCMP’s investigation.”
Wood Buffalo RCMP continue to investigate the incident at the Jubilee Centre and ask anyone with information to call 780-788-4040.
Anonymous tips can be provided via Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app.
