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Hilda Cirotto's avatar

You should be the consultant for investigating these "irregularities", Nina. Honest research and reporting are obviously in short supply.

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KEMOSABE's avatar

Love those articles, Nina. It's amazing how few are afraid to tell the Emperor that he has no clothes. But then again, he seems to be unwilling to listen.

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Jack's avatar

I have to say, this is excellent research. The Government obviously just believed the family and gave the money without fact checking. It appears the family did not know of the documents and facts either, and were likely relying on oral history for their information. This revelation will be embarrassing and sad for them, but maybe a lesson for all the oral history believers.

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Linda Herman's avatar

Agree. Oral history is often clouded by time & childhood trauma. I know this from from my father's account of his memories of Onion Lake residential school. I'm still searching for the full story...

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CC's avatar

I'm really happy that you're looking for full truth and not just a good story. Best wishes.

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Tildeb's avatar

Damn those inconvenient facts. They just keep on getting in the way of these Just So stories. The only reasonable conclusion must be that whoever reveals these facts must be the problem!

Good grief.

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Ceremony's avatar

Very interesting. Can't wait to see the reply.

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Arthur B Grant's avatar

Bullshit without proof of truth is just plain Bullshit!

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Darcy Hickson's avatar

These stories are so sad.

Ms. Green has an incredible ability to navigate the public records and produce evidence that refutes oral claims of harm, disrespect and discrimination. Those darned colonial rules of written records and quarterly enrolment statistics (inventory adjustments for receiving payment) are our saving grace for seeking the truth.

As for the sadness of this situation, family members pursued the truth using an oral history that they believed to be true. There is no indication that there was any malice or intent of harm to others. Nina Green’s research indicates that the oral history has let the family down and the unnecessary exhumation of human remains is a tragic and disrespectful treatment of the dead.

Finally, Ms. Green has illustrated the groupthink that paralyses bureaucracy. Demands to exhume human remains, costing $45,000 was taken at face value, and it appears that the Ontario government placed public relations concerns above an inquisitiveness to determine if the demands were based upon solid facts.

May the disturbed remains be interred with haste and left to God’s care and people be humbled by their actions.

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Alexander Simonelis's avatar

Good work.

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Grace Joubarne's avatar

How can Percy be Bertha's 'uncle' when they shared the same parents? This is ridiculous.

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Joan's avatar

You misread that, Grace. Percy was Bertha's younger brother. Claire is Bertha's daughter, so Percy was Claire's uncle.

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