Dear all,

Flags on University Hall will fly at half-mast today and for the next few days in memory of the 215 children whose remains were discovered in a mass grave at the former residential school in Kamloops, BC. The lowered flags are also in honour of all the victims and survivors of Canada’s residential school system, in which the lives of Indigenous children were treated with neglect, disrespect, and violence. We must recognize that while the Kamloops gravesite is far on the other side of the country, these atrocities occurred right across Canada, and in our own back yard at the Shubenacadie Residential School. Sadly, it is highly unlikely that this is the only mass grave associated with a residential school.

This latest discovery is a painful reminder to us all of the horrific legacy of residential schools, and it must reinforce our commitment to walk together on the path of truth and reconciliation. By taking action today and every day, we can ensure that this kind of atrocity will never happen again in Canada.

At Acadia, our decolonization initiative is an essential element of our Acadia 2025 strategic plan. Transforming the lives of our students must include facing up to racism and discrimination in our community, and learning from and working with each other to create a better world where the lives, cultures, traditions and wisdom of Indigenous peoples are recognised, understood, and valued.

Acadia is located on the traditional and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaw Nation, and I am proud to be working together with the four regional communities of Glooscap, Annapolis Valley, Bear River and Acadia in walking together on the path of decolonization, truth and reconciliation. Our commitment is to make Acadia part of the solution, and this recent discovery of the remains of dead children emphasizes how important it is that we succeed.

Our flags are lowered, our hearts are heavy, and we mourn together.

Msit no’kmaq.

Peter

Dr. Peter Ricketts
President and Vice-Chancellor