Tribute on steps of Legislative Building removed after ceremony

The tribute to the children who never came home from residential schools has been removed from the steps of the Saskatchewan Legislative Building.

The items were removed Friday morning as part of a private, traditional ceremony under the guidance of elders.

Regina Treaty/Status Indian Services will now work with elders on what to do with the items. They’re to be honoured off-site.

In late May, people started placing items like shoes and stuffed animals on the steps to honour the 215 children whose remains were found in unmarked graves at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops.

At the end of June, a display of backpacks was set up at the Legislative Building in tribute to those buried in 751 unmarked graves on the former site of the Marieval Indian Residential School on the Cowessess First Nation.

“These tribute items represent all those who have been devastated by the findings of unmarked gravesites at residential schools,” Don McMorris, the province’s minister of First Nations, Metis and Northern Affairs, said in a media release.

“As we acknowledge the victims of Residential Schools, we want to ensure the tributes are handled respectfully and will be working with Elders and the Regina Treaty/Status Indian Services on a process for all items moving forward.”