Note: The following content may be triggering for some.
The news from the Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan of the 751 unmarked graves located near the site of a former residential school is being painfully felt across the MSVU community and beyond. It is troubling that even more recoveries like this one are expected in our country. At MSVU, we continue to advance critical conversations about our university’s connection to Canada’s residential schools via our founders, the Sisters of Charity Halifax.
Campus flags are being lowered to half-mast to honour the Indigenous children found buried on the site of the former Marieval Indian Residential School and all others who lost their lives in the residential school system.
I want to remind members of the MSVU community that supports are available:
– A Residential Schools Crisis Line is available 24 hours a day at 1-866-925-4419 to support former residential school students and those affected.
– For MSVU students: Special Advisor on Indigenous Affairs at MSVU, Patrick Small Legs-Nagge, Patrick.SmallLegs-Nagge@msvu.ca; and MSVU Counselling Services: counselling@msvu.ca; Good2Talk NS Helpline for Postsecondary Students: 1-833-292-3698
– For faculty and staff: Special Advisor on Indigenous Affairs at MSVU, Patrick Small Legs-Nagge, Patrick.SmallLegs-Nagge@msvu.ca; Employee & Family Assistance Program (or EFAP)—Shepell (free, confidential counselling services) – visit the website or call 1-844-880-9142
Sincerely,
Ramona Lumpkin, CM, PhD
Interim President and Vice-Chancellor
Mount Saint Vincent University