Calgary Anti-Racist Action

SCO STANDS WITH FIRST NATIONS LEADERS AGAINST RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL DENIALISM

The Southern Chiefs' Organization (SCO) stands with First Nations leadership following the unanimous passage of an emergency resolution at the Assembly of First Nations Annual General Assembly calling for residential school denialism to be criminalized as hate speech.

The resolution comes after the Senate of Canada rejected a change to Bill C-9, often referred to as the “Hate Crimes Bill,” that would have included residential school denialism as a criminal offence.

The Chiefs in Assembly have affirmed that denialism attacks the documented truths and lived experiences of Survivors and their families.

Denial of these truths dismisses the lived experiences of Survivors, dishonours the children who never came home, and continues to cause harm to First Nations families and Nations.

Truth is not a matter of opinion—it is the foundation of healing, justice, and reconciliation.

While Canada has taken important steps toward acknowledging the truth of residential schools, much more must be done to protect Survivors and confront the rise of anti-Indigenous hate.

Meaningful reconciliation requires governments to recognize the truth and to ensure it is protected.

First Nations continue to feel ongoing impacts of colonial policies every day.

SCO supports the calls for the Government of Canada to work alongside First Nations to address residential school denialism through meaningful legislative action and to continue advancing truth, justice, accountability, and reconciliation.

To learn about SCO’s Residential School Research Project, visit our website: https://scoinc.mb.ca/rs-research-project/