In 1943, 11-year-old Johnny Kiyawasew passed away at a small hospital in northern Alberta, far from his family in Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation. Johnny, who was compelled to attend the St. Francis Xavier Residential School in Calais, never made it back home, and it took years for his siblings to discover the truth about his fate.
Robert Kiyawasew, Johnny’s younger brother, expressed his frustration at the lack of communication regarding Johnny’s passing, mentioning that their father was unaware and a death certificate was issued without informing the family. After a lengthy search, Johnny’s gravesite was eventually located in 2013 with the assistance of a private investigator.
Reports indicate that Johnny succumbed to pulmonary tuberculosis at a hospital in High Prairie, where he was laid to rest, a considerable distance from the residential school. Currently, the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation and the University of Alberta are engaged in extensive research efforts to unveil the stories of children like Johnny who attended residential schools but never returned home.
Sheldon Sunshine, chief of Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, emphasized the human aspect of the data, highlighting that many children at St. Francis Xavier died due to tuberculosis and malnutrition. He described the conditions the children endured as heartbreaking, reflecting on the hardships faced by Indigenous people in those institutions.
Robert Kiyawasew expressed gratitude for finding Johnny’s grave before his sister’s passing, visiting it regularly to pay his respects. A survivor of a day school himself, Robert shared his own struggles and emphasized the importance of preserving Native culture and heritage.
Challenges persist in accessing records related to residential schools, as noted by Raymond Frogner from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. The fragmented nature of the records, managed by various organizations without coordination, complicates efforts to piece together the history of these institutions.
Despite difficulties in obtaining accurate information, Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation remains committed to uncovering the stories of children who never returned from residential schools. Chief Sunshine stressed the significance of this work for achieving closure and addressing intergenerational trauma within the community.