In an open letter sent yesterday to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the Canadian Historical Association called on the federal government to ensure that historical records of Indian Residential Schools, held by the government, archival institutions, and religious institutions be fully available to researchers and survivor communities.
The association particularly expressed its displeasure that certain records related to the operation of the Indian Residential School system in Canada have been moved by the Roman Catholic Church outside the country.
“Given the ongoing demands that the church make available all records related to these schools, we are disheartened by its decision to limit, either purposefully or inadvertently, access to these essential records by having them housed in Rome. It is part of a wider reluctance on the part of religious institutions to open their archives to researchers. We would therefore ask that provisions be made to allow researchers to view them here in Canada.”
In November, the CBC reported that researchers in Ottawa had uncovered new evidence to suggest some archival records relating to residential schools in Canada are now only available in Rome.
Family historians will also understand the association’s ongoing frustration about limited access to records amid budget limitations.
Steven High, president of the Canadian Historical Association, and Daniel Sims, CHA council member responsible for advocacy, who both signed the letter, wrote, “The real threat to Canadian history is the destruction and removal of historically important records as well as barriers to access at public archives caused by chronic underfunding and service reductions.
“Archival records are essential to our understanding of Canada’s past. They provide insight into past motivations and actions as well as their social consequences. In the case of what happened in Indian Residential Schools, truth is a precondition to reconciliation.”
The letter to Prime Minister Trudeau can be found on the Canadian Historical Association’s website.
