I’ve had a few people get in touch and wonder if I’m still researching and writing about the Camsell. The answer is: YES!
It may not look like it from the number of times I’ve posted during the past couple of years, but I am constantly deepening my understanding of the issues involved – and my roles and responsibilities as a settler historian doing this work. It’s been five years since I first really started working in this area, and my thinking has been challenged (and often changed) at so many points along the way.
I continue to dig in archives, engage in community-based work, and make connections between media, researchers, family members, and former patients to help people find answers and foster more conversations around this important topic and lived experience.
Over the next few months, I expect to post more resources and links. In the meantime, please keep reaching out and I’ll do my best to help you find who and what you’re looking for. (Unfortunately at this time I can’t undertake full-time research quests to track down individuals, but the Nanilavut program has a lot of expertise and resources, and I will still try and guide you as best I can in your own process!).
Also, I would love to hear from you about what records you want access to and how you would like to be able to access them. I’m always thinking about this as I chat with archives and groups around Canada: where are these being stored? How can individuals and communities find them? And what are the privacy concerns around putting them online or out into the world?
More soon!
Danielle
ghosts of camsell 
Hi,
I found this link showing the names of 98 of the deceased patients from the Charles Camsell that are at the St.Albert cemetary cairn.
https://nunatsiaq.com/stories/article/65674nunavut_elders_heal_old_wounds_during_edmonton_visit/#:~:text=Mabel Etigik, Annie Atighioyak and Mary Avalak stand,at the St. Albert cemetery in unmarked graves.
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Hi, I am just starting to search for information on my Grandmother who was a patient in the Charles Camsell Indian Hospital and died in 1969. Any info or tips would be greatly appreciated.
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Hi Tracy – have you had a chance to check out the posts on this site about researching patient records? Please look at what Melissa and I put together and if you still have questions, I’d be happy to chat further! Best, Danielle
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Yes, I requested and received her death certificate, and just submitted the request for personal information. Hoping to find some pictures as my mother only has 2 pictures of her mother. Such an emotional journey! Thank you for doing what you do! I look forward to updating you on what I find.
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I’m so glad you were able to get her death certificate and I hope the request for personal information pans out! Some folks have been able to get photos that way. Another possibility is going through photos at City of Edmonton Archives, Provincial Archives of Alberta, and, of course, Library and Archives Canada. As you might have found already, though, sometimes there aren’t names attached to the photos or the spellings are different, which can make it time-consuming and tricky. And we’re in a pandemic so going and sifting through files in person isn’t always possible at the moment! If you send me a private note ([email protected]) with your grandmother’s name, I can also keep an eye out in my research materials here about the late 1960s to see if there’s anything! And yes, please do update me on what you find and any challenges you encounter. Sending you good vibes and gentle thoughts on this emotional journey, and thank you so much for your kind words. It is an honour to help. Best, Danielle
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