Dr. Frances Widdowson, a Canadian scholar, was scheduled to give a talk called “How Wok-ism Threatens Academic Freedom.” However, the president of the University of Lethbridge, Dr. Michael Mahon, cancelled the event stating that it could cause harm and be an impediment to meaningful reconciliation between indigenous people and Canadians. The cancellation was justified by invoking Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) calls to action. The cancellation was criticized as an attempt to stifle respectful disagreement and debate. It was argued that universities, especially those that managed Indian Residential Schools, should encourage civil discourse on the TRC report and 94 calls to action because they have serious financial and social implications for universities, churches, and all Canadians. It was also noted that questioning facts presented in the report doesn’t make someone a “residential school denier” but rather a “historical realist.” The article suggests that Canada needs more discussion, not less, on the topic of residential schools and whether or not children were murdered and buried in the school yards. It urges universities and churches to strive for truth and a good understanding of indigenous history, culture, and burial practices. Excavations are necessary to determine if unregistered bodies of children were murdered, and justice needs to be served.
Debate if residential school yards contain buried children.
