Family of man in residential school denied federal funds to repatriate remains because he died as an adult

Family members who have been fighting for years to repatriate the remains of their loved one who was put in a residential school in Thunder Bay, Ont., say they've been denied federal funding because he died when he was an adult.

Percy Onabigon was six years old when he was taken from Long Lake #58 First Nation in northern Ontario to St. Joseph's Indian Residential School in 1944. He had epilepsy and was paralyzed on one side of his body.

From there, he was sent to a number of hospitals, including a mental health institution formerly known as the Orillia Asylum for Idiots, without his parents' knowledge or consent. In 1966, when he was 27, Percy died of tuberculosis and was buried at St. Mary's Cemetery in Woodstock, Ont., more than 1,200 kilometres from his home community.

Last year, Percy's niece, Claire Onabigon, applied for funding to repatriate Percy through the Residential Schools Missing Children Community Support Fund. However, she said she was told she didn't qualify because Percy died when he was an adult, not a child.

"We didn't hide children or adults who had challenges, whether they be intellectual or physical. We included them in every part of our lives," said Claire.

"You chose to put him in an institution, to take him from his family, to take him from everything that he knew, and you hid him until he died — so it's your responsibility to bring him back," she continued, referring to the Canadian government.

Claire said the federal government told the family to seek provincial funding, since Percy died at the Ontario Hospital in Woodstock. However, the province directed them to Anishinabek Nation, the organization that helped the family apply for federal funding in the first place.

Anishinabek Nation determined the cost of bringing Percy home at around $45,000, which would include sending relatives to Woodstock to be there for the unearthing and a community feast to celebrate Percy back in Long Lake #58.

"I think it wasn't so much that the [federal] government was scared of the money," said Frank Onabigon, Percy's nephew. "I think they still are afraid of accepting responsibility."

Claire, Long Lake #58's director of education, completed her thesis on the impact of the residential school system on Long Lake #58 First Nation and neighbouring Ginoogaming First Nation. Through her research, she learned that four generations of her family were put in the residential school system  — including Percy, her mother Bertha, and uncles Kenny and George.

"My mother remembers in November they were out at recess, and the kids came running to her and told her that Percy had gone to the McKellar Hospital," recalled Claire. "My mum said that was the last time they ever saw him."

Growing up, Claire heard stories about how Percy played with his siblings and cousins and helped with the household chores, including folding diapers, before he was taken away.

"His family very much included him in everything," she said.

Bertha died knowing her brother was buried in Woodstock and with a promise from Claire that she would bring Percy home.