Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he remains committed to working with Tk’emlups te Secwepemc and other Canadian First Nations when it comes to reconciliation.

“We will continue to work together on important issues, whether it’s the healing centre this community has been working on for a long time, or an elders’ lodge, or designation of historic sites, or working together to make sure we’re finding answers,” Trudeau said Monday while in Kamloops.

“These are all concrete actions.”

In his opening remarks from the Tk’emlúps Powwow Arbour grounds, he says he apologized in person to Kukpi7 Casimir – two weeks after he first apologized for ignoring a pair of invitations from the band, choosing instead to vacation with his family in Tofino on the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, on Sept. 30.

“I say, I wish I had been a few weeks ago and I deeply regret it but I am here today to take the hand extended by Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc and so many Indigenous Canadians across the country…as we work everyday to make Canada better for everyone,” he said.

Trudeau says he is grateful that Kukpi7 Casimir gave him another chance to visit Kamloops, adding the pair had an “important conversation” on how the country can move forward given the reality of residential schools.

“After Sept. 30, she could have chosen to turn her back on me and the federal government … and yet she reached out and said, ‘Please come, and listen and learn, and we will walk this path together,'” Trudeau said.

“Before we can get to reconciliation, we need to take about truth and the truth of what these children experienced decades and generations ago lingers today, has an impact today.”

Asked by reporters whether he thought the his apology was apology was accepted, Trudeau responded saying, “Words do matter and with an apology recognizing the harm that was caused is an important first step towards healing, towards restitution, towards doing right. But it’s not just about words, it’s about actions.”

He also said there is “no question” that the federal government will compensate survivors, while aiming to ensure that Indigenous children are no longer removed from their cultures and communities.

“Not only do we need to compensate for the past, we need to make sure we’re preventing the need for compensation because we’re removing the harms and the injustices in the present and into the future,” he said.

Trudeau also committed to permanently lowering Canada’s flags to half-mast on Sept. 30.

‘Bittersweet’ to host PM Trudeau: Kukpi7 Casimir

In her opening remarks, the Chief of Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc says it was “bittersweet” to host the Prime Minster in Kamloops.

“We wanted to ensure that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited what we refer to as a sacred site,” Rosanne Casimir said Monday. “It was a long awaited moment to receive a personal hand of recognition and sympathy regarding this horrific confirmation of unmarked graves from the Canadian Head of State.”

Her comments came after an Oct. 7 statement from the band, which said they were not interested in apologies that don’t lead to real change and action to support healing for residential school survivors and the revitalization of Indigenous culture and languages.

Casimir said the community was in the middle of ceremonies on Sept. 30 when a journalist told her that the Prime Minister was vacationing in Tofino.

“The shock, anger, and sorrow, and disbelief was palpable in our community and it rippled throughout the world to say the least,” she added, while sitting next to the Prime Minister at a media availability.

“Today is about making some positive steps forward and rectifying a mistake.”

Casimir says Tk’emlúps wants healing, peace, and restitution after what’s believed to be over 200 unmarked graves were found at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School at the end of May.

“We seek to bring honour and dignity to the children that were literally cast aside in unmarked burial sites,” she said. “Prime Minister Trudeau…now is the time to commit to the long road ahead to bring healing, peace and restitution to all affected by Indian Residential Schools.”

In addition to the healing centre and an elders lodge, Tk’emlúps is calling on the Canadian government to ensure that all records held by the Canadian government – specifically student attendance records at Residential Schools – are released.