Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc says Canada has to face ownership and accountability about the past after the unmarked graves of 215 children were found at the site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School.
In a statement, Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir says the community as a whole is burdened with the legacy of a federally mandated Indian Residential School.
“Our community is still gathering all the facts in this evolving tragedy,” she said. “We have heard from many survivors, from our own community and beyond. They are finally being heard after so many years of silence and disbelief about the deaths of children in the residential schools.”
To that effect, the House of Commons has unanimously agreed to hold a special “take-note” debate today where Members of Parliament will be able to make their personal views known on the findings and what they think should happen next.
A sacred fire at the Kamloops school site was extinguished last night. The last piece of wood was added around 5:00 p.m. allowing the fire to the burn out gradually.
“As the last logs go on our sacred fire, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for the outpouring of support to our community,” Casimir added.
“Thank you for helping us bring to light such hard truths that came from the preliminary findings…so that we may begin the process of honouring the lost loved ones who are in our caretaking. We love, honour, and respect these children, their families, and communities.”
A monument with shoes, toys, flowers, and notes of support outside the Kamloops school continues to grow. Similar monuments have also popped up across the country to represent the children lost to the residential school system. Flags have also been lowered to half-staff across the country.
“No words are sufficient to express the comfort and love we wish to extend to survivors and intergenerational survivors. We see you, we love you, and we believe you, Casimir added. “We are thankful to the many who are working hard with us to ensure supports are there as you come to terms with these latest findings as well as your own truths and traumas.”
The deaths of the 215 children in Kamloops are believed to be undocumented, and Casimir says she and others know there are more children who are unaccounted for.
“We have heard that the same knowing of unmarked burial sites exists at other former residential school grounds,” she said, adding it is something that was raised by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in the early days of its inception.
“It was not part of their original mandate. The TRC sought for it to be included and were turned down twice by the federal government. That said, the TRC was nonetheless able to do some important work on the topic and we encourage you to revisit Canada’s Residential Schools: Missing Children and Unmarked Burials: The Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, Volume 4.
Moving forward, she is also asking all Canadians to “reacquaint themselves with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Final Report and Calls to Action.”
During her COVID-19 update yesterday, B.C. Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry pledged her commitment to changing the systems and laws that continue to hurt Indigenous people across Canada. Earlier in the day, Premier John Horgan said all Canadians have a responsibility to acknowledge the dark past of the Residential School System head on
There are also renewed calls for the Pope to apologize for the trauma that residential schools have caused. Several Catholic bishops in Canada have issued statements expressing sorrow and shock while offering prayers to the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc.
Casimir also says the band is “deeply disturbed” by vandalism at St. Joseph’s Church on Tk’emlúps land.
“We understand the many emotions connected to a Roman Catholic run residential school,” she said. “At the same time, we respect the choices that Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc ancestors made, over a 100 years ago, to erect this church.”
A National Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support to former residential school students and people affected. It is available 24-hours-a day at 1-866-925-4419.
Within B.C., the KUU-US Crisis Line Society also offers 24/7 support toll-free at 1-800-588-8717. Alternatively, a youth line can be reached at 250-723-2040 and an adult line is available at 250-723-4050.
