There are demonstrations in Canada over the killing and mistreatment of indigenous children in re-education centers. The people are taking a stand against racism.
Winnipeg – The people of Canada are angry. Queen Elizabeth II had to experience that too, if not in person. Demonstrators: inside brought down the statue of the British Queen on Thursday (July 1st, 2021) in Winnipeg, Canada. And not only that. The statue of the former Queen Victoria also had to believe in it. And why? To denounce the killing and mistreatment of indigenous children in re-education homes in Canada. In addition, with their action, the protesters set an example against racism, which the indigenous peoples of Canada are still struggling with today.
As reported by Canadian news broadcaster CBC, the statues were overturned during a protest march. The demos took place on the day Canada officially celebrates its founding. Numerous people in orange T-shirts clearly showed their anger and horror at the discovery of more mass graves of indigenous children near residential schools in Canada.
Canada’s Indigenous Re-education: National Day Protests
In the park in front of the provincial parliament of the Manitoba region in Canada, the demonstrators pulled the statue of Queen Victoria from its base and smeared it with red paint, according to the CBC. The Guardian reported that they left red handprints and a sign that read, “We were once children. Bring them home ”. In the course of anti-racism protests, the sculpture was smeared last year, it is said.
The demonstrators also overturned a smaller statue of Queen Elizabeth II, which was also in the park. The British monarchs are nominally Heads of State of Canada.
Racism in Canada: Indigenous peoples find more graves
According to the CBC, a man was arrested – why is so far unclear, it is said. The man may have attacked the people who knocked over the statue of Queen Victoria.
The protests of July 1 are related to the grave finds at church re-education homes for indigenous children in Canada, according to media reports. What happened at the residential schools was one of the darkest chapters in Canadian history. Between the 1830s and 1998, approximately 150,000 children were in re-education centers. They were taken away from their parents and should be introduced to “Christian civilization” and European traditions in the homes. They were not allowed to speak their mother tongue, and there was fatal violence and sexual abuse.
Canada’s Indigenous Re-education: Trudeau Calls for Apologies from Pope Francis
In the past few weeks, indigenous communities had reported the discovery of several mass graves with the remains of around 1,000 children’s bodies. In June, 751 graves of indigenous children were reported south of a former boarding school in the city of Regina. Most recently, another First Nation announced on Wednesday (June 30th, 2021) that it had found 182 graves near a former residential school near Cranbrook in British Columbia.
The Catholic Church and Great Britain as a former colonial power are criticized as operators of the homes. Just recently, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asked Pope Francis to apologize to the indigenous peoples of Canada.
As the news agency KNA reports, the Canadian Bishops’ Conference announced on Tuesday (June 29th, 2021) that a meeting between Pope Francis and indigenous representatives from Canada was planned between December 17th and 20th. It is about promoting “dialogue and healing”, writes KNA. (uf with KNA)
