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Well aware that the children and adults were hungry and living on starvation-level diets, the researchers chose to use them as unwitting subjects for tests on the effects of nutritional supplements instead of recommending they be properly fed.

Mosby found that vitamins and minerals were provided to some and not to others. Milk rations at one school were deliberately held below recommended levels. An enriched flour that couldn’t legally be sold elsewhere in Canada under food adulteration laws was distributed.

Some dental services were withheld from children over concerns healthier gums and teeth could mask study results.

Atleo’s father was one of those children at a residential school in Port Alberni, B.C.

“It hits home in a deeply personal way,” he said. “I’ve heard these stories — some kids allowed to have their oranges and vitamin Cs and others not.

“I’ve heard these stories all my life.”

I’ve heard these stories all my life

When The Canadian Press broke the story Tuesday, a spokeswoman for Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt said the current federal government was shocked by the findings. Andrea Richer said in an email that Harper’s 2008 apology was intended to cover all such wrongdoings.

And on Wednesday, she said in another email: “We are concerned about these allegations and officials are looking into the matter.”

Atleo wants a more substantive response.

He said the Harper Conservatives should stop fighting efforts by the truth and reconciliation commission to get full access to government documents about residential schools. They should also support aboriginal calls for better funding for child welfare and work to ensure food security in aboriginal families.