Grande Prairie doctor hoping to further conversation regarding residential school system with 215 Pledge

While the news in early June came as a shock to many Canadians, Dr. Lafontaine hopes the 215 Pledge can create a positive conversation and teach Canadians about a dark time in its history.

“One of the ideas that came out of (our) discussions was the idea to have a pledge that could help non-indigenous Canadians prepare themselves for these discussions about the unmarked graves,” explained Dr. Lafontaine.

“We wanted to frame it in the five stages of grief and how you kind of pass from the beginning stage of denial and to the final stage of acceptance.”

The five stages of grief for the pledge include:

Denial – The narrative that suggests this was an isolated event.
Anger – Should be embraced to build momentum for justice.
Negotiate – The search for undocumented gravesites across Canada.
Depression – Reunite families with the remains of loved ones.
Accept – The experiences of all who have been affected by residential schools.

“I think a lot of people aren’t consciously aware of or think about it (the residential schooling system),” said Dr. Lafontaine.

“You’ve seen from the coverage and the worldwide reception, it’s a story that has spread incredibly fast. Finding a way for us to have these discussions in a way that leads us towards something better, is something that was important to me and everyone at the Downie Wenjack Fund.”

Since the discovery of the 215 unmarked graves in Kamloops, more unmarked grave sites have been discovered in British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

While the recent discovery of the residential school gravesites was a shock to many and hurt many people within the indigenous community, Dr. Lafontaine says he’s been encouraged to see the discussion continuing to grow since early June.

“I think that one of the things I’ve been impressed by in the conversation, particularly from leaders like Chief Cadmus Delorme, of the Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan, is that there’s this spoken realization that you as a Canadian and me as an Indigenous person living in Canada, I’m not trying to ask for you to carry the burden of the history on your shoulder.

“Obviously, you weren’t there to create the system or enforce the system,” he added “This is history that both of us have inherited. I think we are creating that space for people to reconcile themselves with what we thought Canada was, what Canada really is and what we really want Canada to be.

“I think that something for me is tough to go through but is beautiful to watch when done in the right way,.”

Dr. Lafontaine added he would like to see the provincial and federal governments sign on to the pledge to further the conversation.

He would also like to see former residential school sites fully investigated.

“I think the provincial and federal governments can lead by saying ‘what we just need to focus on is just uncovering the truth’, and then letting that conversation happen in a way that’s natural.”

“I don’t think any Indigenous communities out there are looking to create situations that create more conflict. We are just trying to get our way through our own trauma. The tone that’s set by our political leadership goes a long way in helping us as Albertans process these things.”

You can sign-up for the 215 Pledge at their website.

by Shane Clausing

Grande Prairie doctor hoping to further conversation regarding residential school system with 215 Pledge

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