Grave Error: How The Media Misled Us (and the Truth About Residential Schools)

The issue of Canada’s residential schools has been at the forefront of public discussion in recent years, particularly with the discovery of unmarked graves at former school sites. This revelation has ignited a nationwide conversation about the atrocities committed against Indigenous children in these institutions, sparking national sorrow, anger, and calls for reconciliation. However, the media coverage surrounding these discoveries has, in some cases, led to widespread misconceptions and confusion about the true nature of these schools and the historical narrative.

In this blog, we explore how media reporting on the unmarked graves—and the broader conversation about residential schools—has sometimes been misleading, and we delve into the reality of what happened, as well as why it’s critical to approach these topics with care and accuracy.

The Narrative: A Sudden Revelation of Mass Graves

The media frenzy around the discovery of unmarked graves at former residential school sites, most notably the Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia, began in May 2021, when the Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc First Nation announced that ground-penetrating radar had detected the remains of 215 children. The discovery was later followed by additional reports of unmarked graves at other residential school locations across Canada. This discovery was framed by much of the media as an eye-opening revelation that had suddenly come to light.

Headlines like “Mass Graves of Indigenous Children Found at Former Schools” spread across news outlets globally, with images of crosses and mournful vigils underscoring the gravity of the claims. While these discoveries were undoubtedly tragic and confirmed suspicions that many had long harbored about the residential school system, the rush to label them as “mass graves” led to an oversimplification of the facts.

The Rush to Judgment

The term “mass grave” connotes a deliberate attempt to conceal the bodies of a large number of people, often implying that the deaths were intentional, executed with the goal of erasing evidence of wrongdoing. While many Indigenous communities have long suspected that children died as a result of neglect, disease, and abuse at residential schools, labeling the graves as “mass graves” was, at best, premature and, at worst, misleading.

Several key facts are important to consider in this context:

1. Unmarked Graves Are Not “Mass Graves”: The graves in question are not necessarily mass graves in the typical sense of the term. Many of the graves are unmarked, which is not unusual in the historical context of the residential school system. Indigenous children who died in these schools were often buried in unmarked plots, and many of their families were not informed of their children’s deaths. In some cases, the bodies were buried without ceremony or any effort to acknowledge their humanity.
2. Context of Deaths: The children who died at these schools often succumbed to diseases like tuberculosis, influenza, and other ailments that were rampant in the unsanitary and overcrowded conditions of the institutions. While the deaths were tragic and often preventable, it is important to distinguish between children who died from neglect or illness and those who were killed intentionally. The trauma of these children’s deaths was compounded by the fact that families were often not notified, leaving them to mourn without closure.
3. Historical Oversight, Not Conspiracy: The absence of records, and the lack of proper documentation about these deaths, was not necessarily the result of a concerted effort to hide the bodies or erase evidence of a genocidal policy. Rather, it was the result of systemic neglect, cultural insensitivity, and the dehumanization of Indigenous children, which permeated the residential school system. This neglect in record-keeping and the lack of any proper memorialization further compounded the emotional damage caused by these schools.

How the Media Missed the Mark

The problem with the media’s coverage of these grave discoveries is not necessarily in their reporting of the findings, but in how the narrative has been shaped. Here are some of the issues with the media coverage:

1. Sensationalism Over Nuance: The term “mass graves” immediately conjures images of intentional and systematic genocide, and while Canada’s residential school system was deeply harmful and had elements of cultural genocide, not all deaths were the result of malice. By jumping to conclusions about the nature of these graves without fully understanding the causes of death or the conditions that led to them, the media has sometimes fueled more fear, confusion, and resentment than clarity.
2. Exaggerating the Discovery: While the discovery of unmarked graves is a tragedy, the media’s framing of this as a shocking “discovery” overlooked the fact that many Indigenous communities have been aware of these unmarked graves for decades. Stories of children dying in residential schools, being buried in unmarked graves, and having their families left in the dark have been passed down through generations. Indigenous leaders and elders had long been vocal about the systemic mistreatment of children in these institutions, and many survivors shared their painful experiences long before these unmarked graves were detected.
3. Lack of Historical Context: By failing to provide adequate context about the residential school system’s history, the media has inadvertently reinforced simplistic narratives. This leads to a lack of understanding about the full scope of the trauma that these schools inflicted. For example, the very concept of the “cultural genocide” perpetrated by the residential school system is often not sufficiently explored in the media, making it difficult for audiences to grasp the depth of the harm done to Indigenous communities.

The Truth About Residential Schools

Understanding the full truth about the residential schools requires more than just focusing on unmarked graves. While the discovery of these graves is undeniably important and painful, it must be part of a broader reckoning with Canada’s history.

1. Cultural Genocide: Residential schools were a tool of cultural genocide intended to assimilate Indigenous children into Western society, often by force. Children were subjected to harsh physical punishment, forbidden to speak their languages, and separated from their families for extended periods. Many were forced to adopt European customs, practices, and religions, which led to the erosion of Indigenous languages, cultures, and traditions.
2. Abuse and Neglect: Beyond the unmarked graves, the residential schools were sites of abuse, neglect, and trauma. Many survivors report being subjected to physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, and countless others were subjected to conditions of overcrowding and disease, where medical care was often insufficient. These schools were breeding grounds for intergenerational trauma, the effects of which continue to reverberate through Indigenous communities today.
3. The Legacy: The legacy of residential schools is one of ongoing displacement, loss, and suffering. While Canada’s government and churches have formally apologized, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has documented many of the abuses, the social and psychological scars left by these schools remain present in the everyday lives of many Indigenous peoples. A meaningful path forward requires not just acknowledgment of the harm done, but a commitment to reparations, healing, and structural change.