Neighbors in Hamilton are leaving handprints on the pavement to show their support for Indigenous communities.

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Kirti Pathak
New Update
Hamilton

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Dozens of handprints have been painted on a Hamilton sidewalk in support of Indigenous communities throughout Canada following the recent discovery of unmarked remains at former residential school sites. Kimberly Garrod said the handprints were created by her and a neighbor on Wednesday night.

"We made our own sidewalk chalk and wanted to put as many handprints as we could to support the Indigenous children and all of the graves that have been discovered at the residential schools," Garrod told on Thursday. On Wednesday, the community of aqam, one of four bands in the Ktunaxa Nation located near Cranbrook, B.C., revealed the discovery of 182 unmarked graves near the former St. Eugene's Mission School.

The Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan revealed last month the discovery of 751 unidentified graves in a cemetery at the former Marieval Indian Residential School. These statements came after the Tk'emlps te Secwépemc First Nation in British Columbia discovered 215 unmarked grave sites near the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in May.

Garrod stated that she and her neighbor had covered the sidewalk in front of their homes with handprints and have an orange flag hanging in solidarity. They also decorated a crosswalk with handprints. She stated that she hoped the project would inspire greater discussion among adults about what had occurred and "maybe focus on actually bringing safe drinking water to Indigenous people because that still hasn't happened." It only took a few hours to complete the project.

 

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