My Why

Considering the recent unearthing of the mass grave at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia, where the remains of 215 children were found, I find it disturbing, saddening, sickening, that we are taught to believe this was a part of our ‘dark history’ as Canadians. What can be considered history, when the last residential school operating was only closed in 1996 in Brantford, Ontario? When some of the same Canadian political leaders were then in office as they (or their offspring) are currently? 

I find myself unable to think of the atrocities that were perpetrated against children in our own country, by our own countrymen (and women) as an exclusive to Canada. They are universal atrocities, occurring still every single day.

Was a human’s ability to, and need for, Love (universal love, the unconditional love we feel for a child, for example) felt differently by people who lived in the 1800’s? 1900’s? 1996? Is it felt differently today? I don’t think it so. 

And so we cannot sweep this news under our carpet of history, when in today’s world there are members of society who traffic, and profit greatly from, sex and labour of children. What ‘happened’ in Canada or other parts of the world in the last 25 years that make us think a lesson has been learned? That we are ‘different’ now, that these ‘bad people’ no longer exist, or are not in positions of authority? 

In Canada we should applaud the eventual closing of the residential school system. But this doesn’t mean there is no platform or arena for a similar disregard for children’s welfare operating directly under our noses still.  The internet has facilitated opportunity for child trafficking, and it is not limited to the dark web.  As tech giants insidiously influence our policies and our community guidelines, why are ‘natural remedies’ and ‘vaccine hesitancy’ being shadow banned and censored, while this technology exists to practically wipe out or safeguard our children from being sold and abused online, too? Could our social media platforms be our new Residential schools, and we are not even aware of it?

We need to educate ourselves and become aware of the current worldwide problem of child trafficking. The details of the situation are a tough pill to swallow, but if we are not aware, we cannot possibly align our values and attention in the correct places in order to affect positive change.

$1 from every bottle of every Evan Beau product sold is being donated to One Body Village Canada, an organization that works to rescue, rehabilitate and prevent child trafficking in Vietnam and Cambodia. Every penny goes towards these children and these efforts. If you would like to learn more, please visit www.onebodyvillagecanada.org , and shop with the inspiration of the difference we can make together, here.

As I learn more, I will share more. The girls who are not just surviving but now thriving at One Body Village safe homes will thank you.

Lauren, Founder of EVAN BEAU