As we reflect on the Office of the Special Interlocutor’s (OSI) final gathering, “Upholding Sacred Obligations”, the significant issue of denialism was raised during one of their panel discussions. Denialism the rejection or distortion of the painful history of Indian Residential Schools (IRS) and the profound harm it caused generations of Indigenous children.
In this blog, we explore the key points contained within the denialism panel discussions from the final OSI gathering held in October 2024. The panel featured Kukpi7 (Chief) Rosanne Casimir of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation, Dr. Sean Carleton, Historian and Indigenous Studies Scholar at the University of Manitoba; Ben Rowswell, Convenor of the Remembering Project; and was moderated by Tanya Talaga, Anishinaabe and Polish Journalist and Author.
Exploring Denialism - Key Themes from the OSI’s Panel Discussion
1. Minimizing the Scale of Abuse
A common form of denialism is downplaying the abuse in Indian Residential Schools. Denialists claim that the abuse was exaggerated or isolated, or even that Indigenous children were better off in these schools, ignoring the role in erasing culture, language, and identity.
Survivors have shared multiple accounts of physical, emotional, spiritual, and sexual abuse, documented during the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA). These records are currently held by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) and serve as a strong counter to denialism. The violence, neglect, and disease that flourished at these institutions due to poor conditions were well-known by government and church officials and are supported by numerous documents drafted by the very individuals who ran these institutions. Denialism panelist Ben Rowswell commented that 95% of Canadians know about Indian Residential Schools, however only 22% believe that there was intention to harm Indigenous peoples.
2. Distorting the Purpose of the Schools
The Canadian government and religious organizations often portrayed IRS as benevolent institutions aimed at educating Indigenous children. However, this narrative overlooks their role in attempting to erase Indigenous cultures, recognized as cultural genocide. Denialism frames these schools as “civilizing” forces rather than systems that broke families and imposed Euro-Canadian values.
The purpose of Indian Residential Schools was largely to assimilate Indigenous children into western culture. Policies such as the Indian Act were aimed at eradicating Indigenous ways of life, languages, and spiritual practices to make way for the development of Canada as a nation. Indigenous people were often referred to as the ‘Indian problem’ and the Indian Residential Schools were a tool used to eradicate them through assimilation. The refusal to acknowledge the intent of the schools reinforces systematic racism and allows further marginalization of Indigenous people across Canada.
3. Dismissing Survivor Testimonies
Survivors often face skepticism, with some dismissing their accounts as “false memories” or exaggerations. This undermines the lived experiences of those who endured the system and perpetuates historical harm
Despite decades of testimony from Survivors and Indigenous communities, the Canadian government has yet to fully acknowledge and reconcile its role in the IRS legacy. While the government recognizes its obligation to reconcile in principle, its actions still fall short. Denying or minimizing the scale of harm inflicted by the IRS system only creates barriers to reconciliation, reinforcing a culture of impunity and denialism within Canada. Many Survivors describe their time at the school as an act of genocide.
As the late Murray Sinclair, former Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), emphasized, “It is important to acknowledge the residential school legacy as genocide because, first and foremost, Survivors themselves raised the issue. For many of them, recognition of colonial malevolence is necessary for the process of reconciliation to move forward.”
4. Refusal to Acknowledge Unmarked Graves
Recent discoveries of unmarked graves at former Indian Residential School sites have sparked public outcry, but denialists continue to downplay their significance, claiming the deaths were due to illness, or that the unmarked graves discovered through ground search investigation have not been exhumed to show physical proof of human remains.
Many communities across the country have reported to have found anomalies that indicate grave shafts are present on former IRS sites, yet many denialists are seeking physical proof. This call by denialists for physical remains to be exhumed from the ground is extremely insensitive to the cultural practices of the Indigenous communities whose children’s remains are unaccounted for. However, physical proof has naturally surfaced. In 1996, the remains of 34 children were exposed naturally during a flood near the Dunbow Industrial School in Alberta, proving these institutions did contain burials sites and children did perish while attending these “schools.”
Searching for unmarked graves is a lengthy and complicated process. At the Mohawk Institute, Survivors’ Secretariat must search over 600 acres associated with the former property. In three years, the Secretariat has covered just 3.4% (20.5 acres) using advanced techniques like ground-penetrating radar, LiDAR, and drone scanning. This work is very thorough, involving experts in archaeology, anthropology, and geophysics to ensure data collection and cross-analysis is correctly implemented.
Ground search efforts alone cannot identify all the graves of children who were sent to other institutions, such as sanatoriums, Indian hospitals, and juvenile detention centers, where many children also lost their lives. This instead requires extensive analysis of IRS records and documents.
5. Government and Religious Denial
Government officials and religious organizations have often engaged in denialism by downplaying their roles in the atrocities. The slow response to the NTRC’s Calls to Action and ongoing underfunding of efforts to uncover missing and disappeared children and unmarked graves are key examples of denialism, as are some religious leaders’ continued resistance to accountability.
Government, church and other institutions hold archival records crucial to locating missing children, yet these records remain largely inaccessible to Indigenous communities. Survivors, families, and researchers face significant barriers in accessing them, as they are often controlled by the state, church, and academic institutions. For the Survivors’ Secretariat, these records are vital for locating missing children and understanding the broader history of the IRS system. Addressing gaps in both government and church records is crucial for identifying burial sites, honouring the children, and ensuring their stories are not lost to history. To date, the Secretariat has identified 5,630 children taken from 60 communities and 2 geographic regions to the Mohawk Institute. This number is anticipated to grow as new records are released.
6. Media and Public Narratives
Some media and public figures in Canada perpetuate denialism by focusing on reconciliation without fully addressing the harm caused by Indian Residential Schools. By misrepresenting or downplaying the atrocities, they contribute to a culture of denialism that protects colonial government interests which continue to harm Indigenous communities.
At the final OSI gathering, panelists stressed the need for media education to raise awareness about IRS, emphasizing trauma-informed journalism to avoid re-traumatizing communities. Given the sensitive nature of IRS, Survivors’ Secretariat has implemented policies to respect the dignity of Survivors. The Secretariat will not engage in emails or correspondence deemed threatening, degrading, or harmful in any way. They also reserve the right to request questions from the media in advance to help Survivors prepare emotionally for interviews.
7. Settler Amnesty and Cultural Impunity
Denialism is linked to settler amnesty and cultural impunity, where those responsible for IRS abuses face little accountability. The reluctance to address denialism reflects this impunity, allowing state and church institutions to avoid responsibility.
Indian Residential Schools were managed by real individuals, including clergy, priests, nuns, doctors, policymakers, and politicians. To date, only a few individuals responsible for sexual and physical abuse at these institutions have been prosecuted and convicted. As part of the 2005 Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, churches operating IRS were asked to provide $25 million in compensation for abuse to Survivors. They failed to fulfill the promised amount, using legal means to avoid payment.
Last year, the Canadian government promised an additional $92 million over two years (2024-2026), for investigations into missing children and unmarked burials however, 10 months into the fiscal year Survivor organizations have reported that these funds have not been received. The insufficient funding intensifies denialism in Canada and hampers the efforts of organizations working to address it.
As Kimberly Murray stated at the final OSI gathering, “A strong democracy must confront its past failures and take meaningful action to change. Now is a crucial moment for Canada to demonstrate its commitment, through actions, not just words, by supporting Survivors, Indigenous families, and communities in their ongoing search and recovery efforts until these issues are fully addressed.”
Legislative Action on Denialism: Proposed Bills and OSI Obligation
In response to denialism surrounding the Indian Residential Schools (IRS) system, NDP MP Leah Gazan proposed a bill to criminalize the denial or downplaying of its impact on Indigenous communities.
The bill, introduced ahead of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, aims to make it an offense to promote hatred against Indigenous peoples by condoning, denying, or misrepresenting the IRS system, with penalties of up to two years in prison.
Proposed legislative actions include amending Bill C-63 (Online Harms Act) and adjusting the Criminal Code to penalize denialism. While the bill has garnered support from Indigenous leaders, critics argue it could infringe on freedom of expression. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged these concerns, and further discussions are needed before the bill’s passage. As of January 2025, the bill has not yet been adopted.
Obligations 35-37
The OSI Executive Summary’s Obligations #35-37 outline ways to combat denialism. These obligations include:
35. Tracking and Regulating Misinformation: Monitoring and addressing the spread of false information about Indian Residential Schools and related issues. This includes:
- Social and Digital Platforms: Requiring companies to stop and remove misinformation related to these topics.
- Support for Indigenous Communities: Providing assistance to communities targeted by online hate and harm.
- Penalties and Enforcement: Establishing penalties and implementing strong enforcement mechanisms for those spreading falsehoods.
36. Proposed Legislation: The federal government should include provisions in Bill C-63: An Act to Enact the Online Harms Act to address denialism related to Indian Residential Schools, including the missing children and unmarked graves.
37. Criminal Code: The federal government should amend the Criminal Code to make it an offence to promote hatred against Indigenous Peoples by denying, downplaying, or justifying the Indian Residential School System, or misrepresenting related facts.
Moving Forward Together
The fight against denialism isn’t just about confronting uncomfortable truths; it’s about ensuring these injustices are never repeated. The ongoing harms faced by Indigenous communities, such as the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW), overrepresentation in child welfare and justice systems, cultural erosion, and land rights disputes are part of systemic patterns rooted in the legacy of Indian Residential Schools. Understanding both past and present injustices is essential to addressing the root causes.
By acknowledging these injustices, Canadians can better understand the lived realities of Indigenous peoples. This understanding is central to dismantling denialism and building a more inclusive, informed society.
Recognizing these truths strengthens our collective commitment to supporting Indigenous self-determination, healing, and well-being. It is also crucial that Indigenous communities pass on their knowledge to future generations, ensuring they inherit a future grounded in truth and true reconciliation.
The Survivors’ Secretariat is dedicated to walking this path together, confronting the full truths of our shared history and working toward a future built on justice, accountability, and healing for all.
To read the full OSI report, please visit: Reports – Office of the Independent Special Interlocutor
The Survivors’ Secretariat will further explore the key themes outlined in the OSI’s Final Report in future blog posts. Subscribe to our newsletter to have these posts sent directly to your inbox. As new blogs are posted we will update this post with links to consecutives blog posts.
In our next blog we will explore Settler Amnesty and Cultural Impunity.