Hundreds of vehicles took part in a convoy in Kahnawake on Thursday, July 1st. At noon, protesters slowly drove down portions of highways 132 and 138 to honour the Indigenous children whose remains were found at the sites of former residential schools.
Whether on t-shirts, signs or ribbons—it was the colour orange rather than red that was in the spotlight during this event. The community chose Canada Day to emphasize the reality of residential schools in the history of the country, explained co-organizer Michael Diabo.
“We all knew this happened but now the evidence is coming to light, and everyone can see it,” Diabo said. “Maybe we’ll get recognition from the government now that people, Canadian citizens, are seeing that. They can relate to our pain. Who doesn’t love children? It doesn’t matter where you’re from, what your country is, what your beliefs or religion are: the children are innocent. They are our future generations, and they were stolen from us by the Catholic church and the Canadian government”.
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One of the organizers, Michael Diabo, at the top right, surrounded by community members. (Photo: Le Soleil de Châteauguay – Paula Dayan-Perez).
Sorrow and solidarity
People of all ages and from different communities came together for the occasion. Participants said they kept the same thought in mind: those Indigenous children who never saw their families again.
“All these babies were never brought home,” expressed protester Washakaiontha Bush. “Their parents went to bed every night not knowing where their babies were.”
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Washakaiontha Bush and Otiahori Bush participated in the rolling protest. (Photo : Le Soleil de Châteauguay – Paula Dayan-Perez)
“Just think if it was your own children who had been found, said Dorothy Montour, who also participated in the convoy. We are all in so much pain for them. We hope everything will be okay from now on. We really are thankful for all the support that we’re getting from all the people who are non-Natives.”
Fouzia El Ouhab and her family, who are Châteauguay residents, wanted to support First Nations communities. « We are here to denounce the people who’ve killed these young children, we want to combat violence, » maintained El Ouhab. “It’s really shocking that there are people out there who can kill kids like this, in cold blood. It’s shocking in a free country like Canada.”
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The Châteauguay family wanted to honour Indigenous children. (Photo : Le Soleil de Châteauguay – Paula Dayan-Perez)
Support from the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake
For its part, the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) allowed employees to take time off work to attend the event. “It was a peaceful protest, stated press attaché Joe Delaronde. “It was a peaceful protest. From everything I heard, it was very respectful, which is what it should be. Awareness needs to be brought to the situation.”
Canada Day celebrations in Châteauguay
Several cities across the country had cancelled July 1st festivities in solidarity with Indigenous communities. Although there have been calls on social media to cancel the show in Châteauguay, the virtual event organized by the Irish Heritage Association, and published on the City’s Facebook page, still took place.
« This does not mean that the City is not sensitive to the current situation, » said communications director for the City of Châteauguay Stéphanie Gosselin. “We want to celebrate Canada, while looking to a future that we want inclusive and reconciling. The speakers raised the current issues at the start of the show. Nobody wishes to ignore what is going on.”
On the other hand, the Châteauguay and Valley Irish Heritage Association expressed its dissatisfaction with the City’s decision to broadcast the show. The organization said it had requested its cancellation. « This virtual event was recorded a few weeks ago, well before the Canada Day boycott movement. Out of respect, we will not be broadcasting the event on our page, » announced the Association on its Facebook page on July 1st.
The same day, about fifty people gathered on the steps of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Parish Church, in Châteauguay, at the invitation of the federal MP for Châteauguay-Lacolle, Brenda Shanahan. Shanahan had organized a “moment of sharing and reflection” in memory of Indigenous children.
A support hotline
A National Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for former Residential School students and those affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling 24-Hour National Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419.
