Researcher hopes trove of rare residential school photos can help identify missing children

About 1,000 black-and-white photos from the early days of Canada's residential school system have been discovered in the archives of a Roman Catholic order in Rome.

Raymond Frogner, head of archives at the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) in Winnipeg, found the photographs earlier this month when he was given exclusive access to the Oblate General Archives to identify residential school records.

He said the images are part of an early 20th century photo series sent by priests from various institutions in Canada including the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia,where the discovery of more than 200 suspected unmarked graves wasreportedin May 2021.

"The photos would give some indication of childrenwho perhaps might have been known to be lost," Frogner said.

"If the photos are dated, we can actually get an indication of where they were."

The series contains images of the field where the suspected unmarked graves are located in Kamloops, he said.

The photographs also includeimages of acemetery site without markers next tothe former Marieval Indian residential school in Saskatchewan.Many of the cemetery's grave markerswere removed in the mid-20th century. The cleared portion of the cemetery was surveyed by ground penetrating radar, which reported700 potential graves.

The Marievalschool operated from 1899 to 1997 on the Cowessess First Nation, about 140 kilometres east of Regina, Sask.

"That one will be interesting because some of the crosses of the gravesites in Cowessess have been removed," Frogner said, adding the images could help reveal when the markers were taken away.

While there are handwritten notes on the backs of theimages found in the archive in Rome, he said, they don't identify the children photographed.

Images to be digitized

The NCTR ishoping to identify as many of the children in the photos as possible by digitizing the images and sharing them with Indigenous communities.

"It'sgood news that the photos exist and that they have been brought to light," said Marie Wilson, one of three commissioners who served on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

"Itwill be a treasure trove. I hope it's not too late to serve the healing role that it could play."

WATCH | Newly found images could offer clues about missing children

Former TRC commissioner reacts to discovery of rare residential school photos

2 years ago

Duration 2:03

Marie Wilson, one of three commissioners who served on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, reflects on the significance of newly unearthed photos from the residential school system stashed in Rome.

Wilson said she's troubled by how long it tookto unearth the images and hopes the photos can be copiedand shared as soon as possible.

"I think that has to happen to full completion and then we have to keep looking," Wilson said. "No more holding back."

Frogner said that over thefive days he spent combing through about 200 years of Oblate archives, he also sawthe personnel files of priests charged with crimes in Canada.

He said the records detail their careers as Oblates, including their vows, serviceand different missions.They don't provide reports about crimes against children and rarely mention any problems working with children, he added.

Any commentary in the personnel files about mistreatment of children ispresented in the context ofrehabilitating the priest, he said.

"There's no documentation of the children," Frogner said.

"The focus is on the service of the priest It was always a question of how could this be addressed, how could this be resolved within the church."

In some instances, he said, the documents indicate a priest was given an assignment as an "obedience" without offeringdetails.

'"I'm sorry" is not going to cut it anymore'

Frognersaid that when he asked to see the records of a priest notorious in Cowessess,the file he received was "very thin" and gave no indication of any problems withthe way the priest behaved with children.

"The worst crime a person can commit is to take a child's innocence," said residential school survivor Evelyn Korkmaz.

"Yet we seem to look the other way and allow these people to move from location to another location, committing these crimes for decades."

Korkmaz attended the former St. Anne's Residential School in Fort Albany in northeasternOntario.

The institution, which was run by the Catholic orders of Oblates of Mary Immaculate and the Grey Sisters of the Cross, was notorious for abuse. Students reported the school had its own version of an electric chairwhich was used to shock students.

Korkmaz is travelling to Edmonton later this week for the arrival of Pope Francis, who is visiting Canada for what he calls a "penitential pilgrimage" to bring healing and reconciliation.

"I want to hear Pope Francis take ownership of the crimes committed by the institution that he represents," said Korkmaz, a founding member of the international organization Ending Clergy Abuse, which includes survivors from 28 countries.

"Saying'I'm sorry' is not going to cut it anymore. We need action. We want justice."

Korkmaz, who is also a founding member of Advocates for Clergy Trauma Survivors in Canada, said she suspects there are more relevant documents still cached awayin Rome oreven the Vatican, despite denials byCanadian bishops.

Comparing Rome records with those held in Canada

She said shehopes the NCTR continues to scour those church archives for clues.

"These journals, records, photographs should all come back to Canada," she said. "These documents would help us identify the bodies in these unmarked graves and help give the families closure. That's all we're asking for."

Once copies of the documents are made, Frogner said, the NCTR will compare itsfindings at the Oblate General Archives with records held in Canada.

Frogner'svisit to the Oblate General Archives took place one year after the Oblates agreed to speed up access to residential school records.

The Oblates are now moving to retire theirlong-standing practice of keeping personnel files sealed until 50 years after a member'spassing.

Frogner said he believes the Oblates are making changes and opening their archives in responseto the public pressure generated by reportsof unmarked gravesites.

"If a bright light had not been cast on the order itself, I don't know if we'd be having this discussion today," he said.

"I don't also know that we'd have an apology from the Pope and the Pope coming to Canada to further pursue these relationships with Indigenous communities."