The president of the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne (FCFA) du Canada, Jean Johnson, issues the following statement regarding the discovery last week of a mass grave containing the remains of 215 indigenous children on the grounds of a former residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia.

“All Canadians need to feel concerned by the tragedy of residential schools. After the unspeakable discovery last week, no one can or should look away.

We must remember these children who were torn from their parents’ arms, were mistreated, and died far away from their home and family. Let us never forget what was done to them.

We must see and hear what indigenous peoples have been trying to tell us for way too long: residential schools were the scene of criminal acts and remain a dark and shameful episode of recent Canadian history.”