In 1943, 11-year-old Johnny Kiyawasew passed away at a hospital in northern Alberta, far from his family in Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation. Johnny was a student at St. Francis Xavier Residential School in Calais, Alta., and his family was unaware of his fate for many years. Robert Kiyawasew, Johnny’s younger brother, expressed frustration over the lack of communication regarding Johnny’s death, emphasizing that the church should have informed their father. Eventually, after extensive efforts, Johnny’s gravesite was located in 2013 by his sister Roseann with the help of a private investigator.
Johnny’s cause of death was recorded as pulmonary tuberculosis in a High Prairie hospital, where he was laid to rest, a considerable distance from the residential school. Presently, Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation and the University of Alberta are engaged in comprehensive research to reveal the stories of children like Johnny who attended residential schools but never returned home.
Chief Sheldon Sunshine of Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation highlighted the grim reality that numerous children at St. Francis Xavier succumbed to tuberculosis and malnutrition, emphasizing that behind the statistics are individual lives. Robert Kiyawasew, reflecting on his visits to Johnny’s grave, expressed gratitude for his sister’s determination in finding closure.
Robert, a survivor of a day school himself, shared his own challenges and emphasized the importance of preserving Indigenous culture and heritage. The difficulties in accessing accurate records from residential schools were underscored by Raymond Frogner, emphasizing the fragmented nature of the records due to multiple managing entities.
Despite challenges in obtaining records, efforts to uncover the truth about children who attended St. Francis Xavier and never returned home continue. Chief Sunshine stressed the importance of finding closure for families and addressing intergenerational trauma. The commitment to honoring and remembering those who suffered in residential schools remains a vital aspect of reconciliation efforts.