Brantford wants records released on former residential school
Brantford is calling for the federal government, provincial government and the Anglican Church to release all documents related to the former Mohawk Institute Indian Residential School in Six Nations.
City councilors unanimously supported the notice of motion at a special council meeting on Tuesday.
"Tonight's special council meeting is exclusively dedicated to a very import and emotional subject," said Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis.
In a media release, the city said it was asking for all three groups to "respectfully release to the Survivors' Secretariat immediately" their records.
That's the group that is coordinating search efforts to uncover unmarked graves near the former residential school.
"We are grateful to the City of Brantford for their support and advocacy of our mandate to create a community archive by collecting all related records from governments, churches and other institutions that were known to have been involved in the operations of the Mohawk Institute," said Kimberly Murray in the release.
It went on to say that Ward 5 Councillor Joshua Wall worked with the Survivors' Secretariat to draft the Notice of Motion.
"If the City of Brantford can release all records related to the Mohawk Institute Indian Residential School, other levels of government can too, because survivors and the families of those who never came home deserve to know the truth."
Council also heard from three survivors at Tuesday's meeting. Dawn Hill, Geronimo Henry and Diane Hill shared their experiences at the residential school.
The city said a copy of the resolution will be sent to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Premier Doug Ford, the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, Minister of Indigenous Services, Minister of Indigenous Affairs, as well as local MPs and MPPs.
The Mohawk Institute Indian Residential School was in operation from 1831 to 1970.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Advocacy groups speak out against domestic violence comments by Nova Scotia minister
Several Nova Scotia groups that assist women are speaking out against comments on domestic violence by Justice Minister Brad Johns, and at least one is calling for his dismissal.
A couple lost their wedding rings during the ceremony. Two strangers found a fitting solution
Every good wedding has to have one teensy, tiny crisis.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.