Deusdedit Ruhangariyo
Special to ICT
Around the World: Opaskwayak Cree Nation discovers evidence of unmarked burials at school in Canada, aboriginal legal groups welcome focus on gender-based violence in Australia, and a Māori activist-turned-academic earns the title of “Dr.” in New Zealand.
CANADA: First Nation finds evidence of graves
The Opaskwayak Cree Nation has announced the discovery of evidence indicating unmarked burials on the grounds of a former residential school located in northern Manitoba, CBC News reported on Aug. 30.
A three-day search using human remains detection dogs has identified six areas of interest at the former site of the McKay residential school on Fisher Island, about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Opaskwayak and 11 kilometers (7 miles) from The Pas. Opaskwayak Cree Nation stated that these areas may hold multiple undocumented burials.
The search began after more than three years of preparation, delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. For Opaskwayak Councilman Edwin Jebb, who has been involved since the start, the discovery was emotional.
“It did affect me when I saw the dogs at work,” Jebb said. “Running around sniffing, and all of a sudden they got excited and started barking. That’s when it really hit me.”
The McKay residential school operated from 1914 to 1933 on Fisher Island before being destroyed by fire. It was later rebuilt in Dauphin, where it remained open until 1969. Children from various communities, including Opaskwayak, attended the school.
Jebb, whose father attended McKay in the 1920s, said the community has mixed emotions. “They’re sad but happy that we found them because children want to be found,” he said. “There’s a trigger that hits you, and it hits you hard.”
The dogs, trained in Saskatchewan, have near perfect accuracy in detecting remains, according to Chief Maureen Brown. She emphasized the importance of validating the stories of First Nations people. “Having our stories validated and being able to begin the process of coming to terms, because that happened on our lands,” Brown said.
The findings will be confirmed with ground-penetrating radar next spring after clearing the overgrown area this fall. Research will also be conducted on children who went missing during that time.
“Hopefully, stories will come out, and we’ll find closure for families who lost loved ones,” Brown said.
Jebb noted the community will have to decide whether to disturb the remains. “Most of the elders say leave it, don’t be so intrusive,” he said.
“It hits differently when it’s your community,” Brown added.
AUSTRALIA: Gender-based violence focus of funding
The Australian government recently announced a $4.4 billion commitment to combat gender-based violence, including changes in how community legal organizations are funded. The pledge is part of a response to the Rapid Review into Prevention Approaches, the National Indigenous Times reported on Sept. 6.
“Today’s announcement builds on our significant investments to date with a comprehensive package in response to the unacceptable and unrelenting rates of gender-based violence we see in this country,” said ministers Mark Dreyfus, Katy Gallagher, Amanda Rishworth, and Malarndirri McCarthy in a joint statement.
The package includes $3.9 billion for frontline legal assistance services through a new National Access to Justice Partnership with states and territories. Additionally, $351 million over five years from 2025-26 will be allocated for a renewed National Partnership Agreement on family, domestic and sexual violence responses.
Djirra, an Aboriginal family violence prevention service, stressed that Aboriginal women are at greater risk of violence, and investments must prioritize women’s safety. “Press conferences and promises do nothing to save Aboriginal women’s lives. Real investment in our self-determined frontline services is the only solution,” said CEO Antoinette Braybrook.
Braybrook also highlighted confusion about funding allocation, echoing concerns from the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service. “We must have details on exactly how and when today’s promised funding will be allocated,” she said, adding that responding to vague announcements diverts resources from frontline work.
Despite 21 submissions to inquiries, Braybrook emphasized the urgency of action, stating, “The time for talking, and for more reports and reviews, has passed. Governments must act urgently – our women’s lives depend on it.” She also noted that without sustainable, long-term funding, Aboriginal women and children remain in danger.
Attorney General Mark Dreyfus welcomed the funding, saying it would help meet the large unmet legal need in the country. However, Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service CEO Nerita Waight had earlier criticized the government for silencing Aboriginal voices.
NEW ZEALAND: Māori activist earns Ph.D.
Emmy Rākete (Ngāpuhi), a political activist for incarcerated Māori and queer communities in Aotearoa, has reached a new milestone and is now officially Dr. Rākete.
Rākete graduated with a doctorate in sociology from the Faculty of Arts at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland recently, Te Ao Maori News reported on Sept. 5.
Rākete was adorned in a prestigious traditional Māori cloak (korowai), gifted by Professor Tracey McIntosh and the departments of Sociology and Criminology, ahead of her graduation. This honor, rarely bestowed, recognized her significant contributions to academia. Her Ph.D. thesis, “Empire of Punishment: A Social Reproduction Theory of Mass Incarceration,” earned her a spot on the Dean’s List for 2024, which acknowledges exceptional theses.
However, accolades are not what drive Rākete – it’s the people she represents. “Being on the Dean’s List is something I’m really grateful for, but I don’t want the stuff I’ve learned here to just be really good prose,” she explains. She is more interested in building “a shared understanding of the brutal violence inflicted on New Zealand’s working class in pursuit of the interests of the rich.”
As a queer Māori of Ngāpuhi descent and a proud Aucklander, Rākete’s activism began in 2015 at the Auckland Pride Parade. Protesting the involvement of police and prison officers in the event led to her hospitalization with a broken arm. “I couldn’t tolerate the fact that police were invited to use a queer platform, as though they aren’t part of the racist capitalist structure that causes harm,” she says, according to Te Ao Maori News. This moment sparked her establishment of People Against Prisons Aotearoa, where she has been a spokesperson since 2017, advocating for the abolition of prisons.
Originally studying for a bachelor’s degree in sociology, Rākete envisioned herself as a horror author, but the attack led her on a different path – one where she could contribute to academic knowledge and activism. “We had a really important opportunity to communicate a clear message of what was wrong, how we can fix it.”
My final thoughts
My final thoughts are about Emmy Rākete’s remarkable achievement in earning a doctorate in sociology from the University of Auckland. This achievement is not only a personal triumph but a powerful victory for all Māori.
Her journey exemplifies the strength, resilience and commitment to justice that lies within te ao Māori. Rākete has demonstrated that education, paired with activism, can be a profound tool for emancipation and advancing the rights of our people.
Her work challenges oppressive systems and calls attention to the struggles faced by Māori and the working class. Through her activism and academic excellence, she embodies the essence of Māori self-determination and sovereignty. Rākete’s achievements serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration for the next generation of Māori scholars, leaders and activists.
Let her success be a challenge to every Māori: to strive for excellence in education, stand firm in activism, and fight for the rights of your people. By following in Rākete’s footsteps, we can contribute to the collective emancipation and freedom of Māori people everywhere. As we honor her, we must also commit to using our knowledge and skills to uplift our communities and push for real, lasting change.
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