Memorial Pole for Residential School Children Takes an Emotional Tour Across Vancouver Island

Carved by Port Hardy Carver Stan Hunt, the pole’s journey commemorates National Indigenous History Month in Canada.

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Stan Hunt and his nephew Curtis Dickie working on the Indian Residential School Memorial Monument. This significant project involved the hand-carving of 130 individual faces, representing the children who suffered or never came home from the Indian Residential Schools.
Stan Hunt and his nephew, Curtis Dickie, working on the Indian Residential School Memorial Monument. This significant project involved the hand-carving of 130 individual faces, representing the children who suffered or never came home from the Indian Residential Schools. Source: Indian Residential School Memorial Monument on Facebook.

A memorial pole dedicated to honouring the victims of residential schools is embarking on a powerful journey across Vancouver Island this June as part of National Indigenous History Month in Canada.

The pole, crafted by Kwakiutl Master Carver Stan Hunt of Port Hardy, aims to raise awareness about the painful legacy of residential schools and lead to dialogue and healing among coastal communities.

“I have so much respect for what you have done and the meaning behind it. It was an honour to meet you and share some time together. Gilakasla my new friends. Have a safe journey.”

Cory Cliffe, on Facebook.
“The beginning. A red cedar log with so much to tell and so giving as to allow us to create a beautiful memorial monument for the children of Indian Residential Schools. So many families affected, including my own.” -Stan Hunt.
Source: Indian Residential School Memorial Monument on Facebook.

“It’s really hard to see because the way it’s painted all black, that’s how I lived in a residential school. All in dark corners.”

Vern Flanders, residential school survivor.

Hunt dedicated years to bringing the memorial pole to life. He says he painted the pole black to reflect the profound grief endured by Indigenous children, particularly in light of the discovery two summers ago of 215 unmarked graves at the former residential school site in Tk’emlups near Kamloops.

“I hope we don’t just find them. I hope every one of them had a name. As we go, we keep gathering all this love, all of this strength and all this power, all this love from people,” Hunt told CHEK News.

Residential school survivor Vern Flanders was in Campbell River to see the memorial pole. “It’s really hard to see,” said Flanders to the news network. “Because the way it’s painted all black, that’s how I lived in a residential school. All in dark corners.”

“A vision has started, and I let my heart lead my hands. I’ve never done a “pole” like this before, but it’s not a pole, it’s a monument and I find myself emotional, yet grateful for the opportunity to reflect on the dark history our people had to suffer and to honor the ga̱nga̱nana̱m (children) who never made it home.” -Stan Hunt.
Source: Indian Residential School Memorial Monument on Facebook.

The pole will travel to Victoria on June 20th and finally be brought to Vancouver by the Canadian Coast Guard on June 21st for National Indigenous People’s Day.

You can follow the memorial pole’s journey via the Indian Residential School Memorial Monument Facebook page. “Our beautiful southern relations honored us with song, dance, gifts, and strength for our journey. You touched all our hearts, and we will never forget your welcome, love, and stories,” the group shared after the stop in Campbell River this past weekend.

Locals like Cory Cliffe posted on Facebook: “I have so much respect for what you have done and the meaning behind it. It was an honour to meet you and share some time together. Gilakasla my new friends. Have a safe journey.”

Children from Wagalus School in Tsakis, Port Hardy, eagerly greet the arrival of the Indian Residential School Memorial Monument. Along with their teachers, they had helped paint the monument.
Source: Indian Residential School Memorial Monument on Facebook.

“Beautiful! You filled our hearts and souls with love and good medicine to carry on with the journey,” wrote Dot Hunt.

Learn more about National Indigenous History Month in Canada and National Indigenous People’s Day here.

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