Horden Hall Residential School Acknowledgement Statement

Press Release

July 9, 2025

Chief Peter Wesley spoke at the opening of the Horden Hall Gathering this morning with an acknowledgement statement:

We all have the right to grow up in a safe, nurturing environment with our parents, grandparents, and extended families in our home communities. The federal government took this away from some of us. It created the residential school system that made it mandatory for children to leave their homes and families to attend residential school. As we know, the churches ran the residential schools.

A school is supposed to be a safe place of learning, but sadly, the truth is that there are stories of corporal punishment and deaths that took place at the Horden Hall Residential School. The memories are painful for many former students, parents, and grandparents who are no longer with us. The lives of some students ended in the school and on the grounds. Fortunately, one comfort measure existed: the bond created between the students – they became brothers and sisters.

There are many stories about parents not wanting their children to attend residential school. Some parents hid their children when a government official came around collecting children to take them to a residential school. Parents needed permission to keep their children at home and away from the residential school. The decisions about our loved ones and ancestors’ daily lives were made by people who didn’t have their best interests at heart. The trauma inflicted within the Horden Hall Residential School has resulted in intergenerational issues we can all relate to, such as alcohol abuse, drug addictions, child neglect, domestic violence, bullying, mental illness, difficulty staying connected to our culture and language, and so on.

On behalf of Moose Cree First Nation Chief and Council, I acknowledge the trauma and abuses that took place on our homelands at the Horden Hall Residential School.

Today, there are provincial and First Nations zero-tolerance policies to keep our children and grandchildren safe in the school system. Our children deserve to be safe in any school they choose to attend.

I hope your time spent with us this week helps you on your healing journey.

Meegwetch.
Chief Peter Wesley

The Horden Hall Gathering takes place from July 7th to 11th, 2025. For an agenda, visit https://www.moosecree.com/horden-hall-gathering-agenda-and-events/

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