Saint-Hyacinthe, June 25, 2021 – We, the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Hyacinthe, wish to express our deep sorrow and regret following the discovery of more than 750 unmarked graves on the Marieval Residential School site in Saskatchewan.
Our Sisters worked there for several decades to promote the instruction and education of the children entrusted to them.
Without knowing it or wanting to, they participated in the movement of colonialism that was established at that time and thus contributed to the loss of identity that the First Nations rightly denounce.
At this point in history, the congregation hopes with all its heart that the truth will be revealed so that paths of reconciliation based on mutual respect and trust can be opened.
For your information, our archives related to Western Canada are deposited at the Société historique de Saint-Boniface (SHSB) in Manitoba and are therefore open to the public.
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Source: Sr. Pauline Vertefeuille, s.j.s.h., Relationist, 514-298-2055
Congregation Website: https://www.sjsh.org/accueil.html