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Dūłą̄́ Metsī́nlī́ Déh: The Final Chapter of the Lower Post Residential School tells the story of a gathering held on June 30, 2021, in the Kaska Dena community of Lower Post (Daylu). Over the course of the day, people came together to grieve, heal, and witness a ceremonial demolition of the Lower Post residential school, and participate in a blessing of the grounds for a new cultural centre.
Premiere video screening held on March 17, 2022, 3 pm, with Premier John Horgan and Deputy Chief Harlan Schilling in a conversation with Yukon Premier Sandy Silver; Nathan Cullen, Minister of Municipal Affairs; Tristan Miller, member of the Daylu Dena Council; and Rose Caesar, Liard First Nation Elder, as they screen the film and share their reflections.
Survivors, Officials Reflect on Lower Post Residential School Demo
Journal of Commerce | Government, Projects
March 21, 2022 | Russell Hixson
B.C. First Nations people watch as a backhoe begins demolishing the Lower Post residential school which was the site of physical, sexual and emotional abuse for decades. The building continued to be used in the community for offices and government meetings despite years of urging for its destruction.
B.C. and Yukon officials gathered to remember and reflect on the demolition of the Lower Post residential school which took place last summer. They also released footage of the demolition and interviews with residential school survivors.
From 1951 to 1975 the school impacted thousands of children and their families in the region. The demolition of the school came after an outpouring of anger swept across the country following multiple discoveries of mass graves near residential school sites.
Officials released a new video that documents the 2021 demolition which was hosted in the Kaska Dena community of Lower Post. Over the course of the day, a ceremonial demolition of the Lower Post residential school took place, followed by a blessing of the ground for a new cultural centre.
The events were witnessed by members of the Daylu Dena Council, Liard First Nation, Taku River Tlingit First Nation, the Tahltan people, the Kaska people and residential school survivors from throughout the North.
As part of the video screening, Premier John Horgan and Deputy Chief Harlan Schilling participated in a conversation with Nathan Cullen, minister of municipal affairs; Tristan Miller, member of the Daylu Dena Council; and Rose Caesar, Liard First Nation Elder and survivor of the school. Sandy Silver, Yukon’s premier, also shared his reflections on the video in a recorded greeting.
“It was a dark cloud over this community for my entire life. For more than 35 years the chiefs, the community and the survivors have worked to tear that building down,” said Schilling.
Caesar noted long after the residential school closed, the building was used for government meetings. The building served as office space until it was permanently closed due to water damage in June 2020.
“It was so disrespectful because it affected so many First Nations children,” she said. “They may tear down that school, but the memories and the trauma are still with us. They stole our identity, our language, our connection with our family, our mothers and a lot of things.”
She urged other Indigenous people who still suffer from the impacts of the residential school system to get the help and support they need to begin their healing journey. …
Video Celebrates New Beginnings, Demolition of Lower Post Residential School. News Release
BC Gov News | News Release
Office of the Premier
March 17, 2022
VANCOUVER, BC – March 17, 2022 – Premier John Horgan joined Deputy Chief Harlan Schilling, Daylu Dena Council, for the screening of a new video commemorating the demolition of the former residential school at Lower Post and celebrating new beginnings for the community.
“It has been a long journey for the Daylu Dena Council, survivors and their descendants, and members of the community to reach this day,” said Premier Horgan. “This video celebrates the new era of hope, healing and opportunity that is underway in Lower Post, and it confines this abomination of a building to the past where it belongs. It has been my profound honour to support community members in this important and long overdue work.”
The video documents a gathering on June 30, 2021, hosted in the Kaska Dena community of Lower Post. …
Video Premiere Screening @ 3pm Today: Dūłą̄́ Metsī́nlī́ Déh: The Final Chapter of the Lower Post Residential School
Premiere Screening Event
TODAY, March 17, 2022 @ 3pm PDT
Join Premier John Horgan and Deputy Chief Harlan Schilling in a conversation with Yukon Premier Sandy Silver; Nathan Cullen, Minister of Municipal Affairs; Tristan Miller, member of the Daylu Dena Council; and Rose Caesar, Liard First Nation Elder, as they screen the film and share their reflections.
Dūłą̄́ Metsī́nlī́ Déh: The Final Chapter of the Lower Post Residential School tells the story of a gathering held on June 30, 2021, in the Kaska Dena community of Lower Post. Over the course of the day, people came together to grieve, heal, and witness a ceremonial demolition of the Lower Post residential school, and participate in a blessing of the grounds for a new cultural centre.
On March 17 at 3 pm, join Premier John Horgan and Deputy Chief Harlan Schilling in a conversation with Yukon Premier Sandy Silver; Nathan Cullen, Minister of Municipal Affairs; Tristan Miller, member of the Daylu Dena Council; and Rose Caesar, Liard First Nation Elder, as they screen the film and share their reflections.
The Lower Post Residential School operated from 1951 to 1975, impacting thousands of children and families. The community was forced to use the former residential school building for essential services. Funding was secured in 2021 to tear down the building and replace it with a new community centre. The new building is expected to be completed in 2022.
See also:
Daylu Dena Council – Kaska Dena Council
Gathering Around the Fire – Kaska Dena Council
Healing – Interview with DDC’s Harlan Schilling. CHEK | Our Native Land – Kaska Dena Council
Recent Media on Lower Post’s Former Residential School Demolition & New Multi-Purpose Cultural Centre to Come – Kaska Dena Council
Program for the Lower Post Gathering—Ceremonial Demolition Event, June 30, 2021 – Kaska Dena Council
Lower Post Gathering—Ceremonial Demolition Event Rescheduled for June 30, 2021 – Kaska Dena Council
Update: Postponed Lower Post Gathering – Kaska Dena Council
Lower Post Gathering—Demolition & Groundbreaking Event, June 21, 2021 – Kaska Dena Council
Former Canada, B.C., Daylu Dena Council Partner to Build New Cultural Centre, Demolish Former Residential School. News Release – Kaska Dena Council
Former Residential School in Lower Post Slated for Demolition: Premier. Vancouver Sun – Kaska Dena Council
Old Residential School – Interview with DDC’s Harlan Schilling. CBC Radio | As It Happens – Kaska Dena Council
