In 1943, Johnny Kiyawasew, an 11-year-old from Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, passed away in a hospital in northern Alberta after being a student at St. Francis Xavier Residential School in Calais. His family was unaware of his fate for many years until his sister, Roseann, with the help of a private investigator, located his gravesite in 2013.
Johnny’s death, attributed to pulmonary tuberculosis, occurred in High Prairie, where he was buried, far from the residential school. Presently, Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation and the University of Alberta are engaged in thorough research to unveil the stories of children like Johnny, who attended residential schools but never returned home.
Chief Sheldon Sunshine revealed findings indicating that numerous children at St. Francis Xavier perished due to tuberculosis and malnutrition, emphasizing the human impact behind the data. Robert Kiyawasew, Johnny’s brother, expressed gratitude for the discovery of Johnny’s grave by his sister before her passing, recounting his visits to the lonely gravesite.
Robert, a survivor of a day school himself, highlighted the mistreatment and suppression of Native culture experienced by his siblings and himself at the residential school. The challenges in accessing records from this era were noted by Raymond Frogner, emphasizing the fragmented and inconsistent nature of the available documentation.
Efforts by Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation to piece together the stories of children who never returned from the residential school were emphasized by Chief Sunshine, underscoring the importance of finding closure for affected families and addressing intergenerational trauma. Despite obstacles in obtaining information, the commitment to uncovering the truth and honoring the memories of those lost remains steadfast.