Memorials have been raised all over Canada after the bodies of 215 Indigenous children were uncovered next to the Kamloops Indian Residential School, last Thursday, May 27.

According to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation estimates that about 4,100 children died at Canada's residential schools but that many more deaths have gone undocumented. The 215 children discovered in Kamloops are among those whose deaths were not recorded.

Here in Moose Jaw, a pair of sisters have taken it upon themselves to set up a memorial on the steps of St. Andrews United Church. At a ceremony on Sunday morning, Kayleigh and Cassidy Olson laid a pair of children's shoes on the church's steps as a sign of remembrance and reconciliation. They're asking the community to do the same. The sisters have multiple relatives who have gone through the residential school system and have seen first-hand how the trauma can travel through the generations.

"We've seen our families struggling with the path of mental health and addictions," explains Kayleigh. "The pain didn't just stop when they left the residential schools and it won't stop until we get people educated. As hard as those conversations are, we need to have them. That's our goal."

When the sisters first heard the news out of Kamloops, they knew they had to do something. Cassidy, who is 23, says she was shocked to learn that the last residential school only closed down in 1996, only a few years before she was born.

"I think that that is something we all need to remember. It's so close to our hearts and yeah, we had to do something," adds Cassidy.

Kayleigh and Cassidy were joined at the ceremony by Rev. Jim Tenford of St. Andrews, and Moose Jaw Police Chief Rick Bourassa. Kayleigh emphasizes how important it was to have both those groups represented.

Kayleigh Olson was joined at the ceremony by Moose Jaw Police Chief Rick Bourassa and Deputy Chief Rick Johns. (Photo courtesy of MJPS).

"It was very symbolic to have the representatives from the police and church systems because their past and current relationships to Indigenous peoples aren't always the best. Both Rev. Tenford and Chief Bourassa said that they were very grateful to be there and be a part of this because of the things that have happened in the past.

"Words are a lovely thing, but when someone has actually taken action to be there, that speaks volumes. I think that it's a good direction to see in our community," says Kayleigh.

The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) has announced that they will be leading a new investigation into finding unidentified remains of children at Saskatchewan’s residential schools as well. Kayleigh says she is confident that they will find more gravesites similar to those in B.C. While it is traumatic for survivors of residential schools to re-live their experiences, she says being able to honour the graves is an important part of the healing process.

"I'm hoping that the government will make this a priority and will find more gravesites so that we can help these spirits be free and start to heal. It's so sad and sickening that they always had these gravesites next to residential schools because they knew that half of these kids wouldn't make it. This has to be an education piece."

As of Tuesday night, 225 pairs of shoes had already been placed at the memorial. Cassidy and Kayleigh hope to create a permanent installation with the shoes at a local art gallery. There is also a vigil planned at St. Andrews later this week. Details will be released as they become available.