A collection of records held by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Rome, including personnel files and hundreds of black-and-white photographs related to residential schools in Canada, offers “another piece of vital information” in identifying missing indigenous children. says the head of archives for the National Center for Truth and Reconciliation. Raymond Frogner was granted access in mid-July to the Oblate General Archives, where he spent five days conducting a preliminary assessment. He was not allowed to bring back any hard copy of the documents. He hopes the trip and last week’s papal visit open up opportunities for further collaboration: To digitize and share the Oblate General Archives and gain access to all relevant records there – including administrative records, which could shed light on the policies governing priests and nuns in residential schools. He also hopes the religious order will consider returning some of the material to the indigenous communities whose members are pictured in the photos or are the subject of reports. Pope Francis says there was genocide in residential schools in Canada “This would be an example of reciprocity and something that would work towards reconciling the relationship between the Catholic Church and indigenous communities,” he said. Instead, “they still have the position that it’s a private record, not a public record.” He estimates there are 700 to 1,000 related photographs in three archives in the collection. They are from the early 20th century, sent to Rome by priests working in residential schools. The images depict children and activities in the schools, as well as in the surrounding areas. Some are from the Kamloops and Cowessess schools, sites where possible insignificant graves have been identified. The children have not been named, but Mr Frogner believes the photos could be taken to communities to help identify them. “This could add additional information, especially for children who have gone missing and we have no evidence of their final destination. So this is just another vital piece of information in these kids’ lives.” Staff records dating back to 1815 also shed light on the lives of chaplains in the schools. Although abuse is not directly mentioned, Mr. Frogner said, there are oblique references to problems. “Sometimes it is reported that a priest has anger issues and struggles with children. There is never any direct talk of a priest sexually abusing a child or anything like that,” although there is evidence that some priests of ill repute were reassigned to various locations. Previously, some Catholic entities, including the Oblates – who run the majority of Catholic Church-run schools – have been reluctant, slow or unwilling to share key historical documents with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, experts say. That changed last year after the discovery of the possible unmarked graves last year put pressure on the church to respond. The documents, including diaries, pictures, narratives, letters and ledgers, are vital to understanding who the children were and what happened to them. The National Center for Truth and Reconciliation has documented 4,120 children who died or did not return from schools – a figure based on a careful review of just one-third of its records. Mr Frogner estimates the full count will be thousands higher. Some global files are still missing. Mr. Frogner, who is based in Winnipeg, was looking for pre-1945 sacramental records for Kamloops – registers kept in parishes that usually contain births, baptisms, marriages and deaths. The information could help identify children who left the Kamloops Indian Residential School or who went missing and later married. “Nobody can tell me” where they are, he said. “That’s a big gap, in my opinion.” “It’s just another piece of the puzzle to try to find the destiny for these lost children.” He said the Oblates seem open to the prospect of digitizing and sharing the material in their archives, although no formal agreement has been signed. He hopes to return to Rome to help with the digitization process. A spokesman for the Oblates in Rome told The Globe and Mail they are willing to share the material. “General Archives will share with NCTR all documents related to residential schools that have/will be identified by the center,” Shanil Dinuka Jayawardena said in an e-mail. He did not say whether they would share copies or materials directly with Indigenous communities, but said “the general archives remains committed to working closely with NCTR specifically in the process of digitizing and transferring the records.” Tiffany Prete, an assistant professor at the University of Lethbridge who has researched the history of home schools on her reserve, the Kainai Nation (Blood Tribe) in southern Alberta, had trouble accessing her family’s records. “It’s a very strange situation to know that there are records of your family members and your ancestors, but you don’t have the ability to take a look at those records,” he said. Although access has improved in recent years, some materials remain limited. Among the files still missing: The school’s crucial admission and discharge books that list students’ names and would indicate if a child died at school. He wants to see a greater effort, from the Roman Catholic Church in Canada and Rome, to share historical material directly with indigenous communities. “Having access to these records and being able to have them in your home community, as an Indigenous person, would be great. Being able to go in and just read about what’s happened helps to understand how we’re in our current circumstances.” The Morning Update and Afternoon Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.
