Re: “Dialysis error demands fullest probe,” Paula Simons, June 4

The inadvertent flushing of a dialysis unit with disinfecting chemicals while the patient was still receiving treatment makes me wonder how this could easily have been prevented.

Military aircraft under routine maintenance — perhaps even civilian and commercial aircraft — have bright red banners in the locations under inspection/repair that state: “Remove before flight.”

I don’t know what a dialysis unit looks like, but if a handle or switch requires human activation to begin the chemical flush, similar bright red banners should be used that state: “Dialysis in use — do not touch.”

Life is priceless. The cost of a banner might be $10.

Jim Holowchak, Edmonton

People weren’t conquered

Re: “Indian Act has to go,” Letters, Pat Long, June 5

The letter writer references “conquered people.” Really?

Canada was broke after building a railway and fighting some of the people of western North America, but not the powerful Blackfoot Confederacy and their American cousins, the Blackfeet, whom the U.S. Cavalry also avoided.

The reasons for today’s situation include unprecedented mistreatment — cultural genocide, insidious cruelty — over generations. Such behaviour ensured the treaties, developed and signed by our skilled business leaders in the late 1800s, would never be fulfilled by Canada.

There was, and is, enough wealth for all to share. Considering Canada’s treatment of its seniors, youth, teachers and working poor, God help us.

Ralph Manossa, Calling Lake

Parliament has long known

The release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations reminded many that high death rates were a feature of Canada’s residential school system from very early on. Dr. Peter Bryce documented these concerns in his 1907 report.

But the government was aware of these conditions much earlier. Joseph Martin, a Liberal MP, rose in the House of Commons in 1894 to read from a list of students who had died at the Qu’Appelle industrial (residential) school in Saskatchewan. Tellingly, Martin listed the students by their assigned number, but he could state that many had died of consumption (pulmonary tuberculosis) likely brought on by conditions at the school. Martin concluded that almost “every one discharged died” and asked “what is the object of educating these children if it costs their lives to educate them?”

Nothing was done though, and Frank Pedley, a senior official in Indian Affairs, was left to admit a year after Bryce’s report that the department had always known.

Rick Enns, faculty of social work, University of Calgary (Edmonton)

We mustn’t forget D-Day

Have we forgotten the Normandy invasion by Allied troops (Canadian, British and American, for the most part) on June 6, 1944?

D-Day was only 71 years ago. Already forgotten?

Robin Leech, P.Biol., Edmonton

Collaborative approach

Re: “Failing grades all around in bus case,” Editorial, June 5

Your editorial is a breath of fresh air in an emotionally charged situation. You correctly chastise both the school board and the bus company for failing to support this driver in particular and, by inference, all drivers.

But your suggestion falls short as you address the problem behaviour only after it becomes extreme. Kids need more.

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