A First Nation community in British Columbia is taking steps to honor and remember the children who never returned home from residential schools.
The Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation is currently conducting a survey of the former site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School, where the remains of 215 children were recently discovered. The survey is being done in collaboration with the Royal BC Museum and the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus.
The survey is an important step in the healing process for the community, as it allows them to properly document and preserve the site. It also serves as a way to honor the children who were taken from their families and never returned.
At the same time, the First Nation is hosting a meeting to discuss the discovery of the unmarked graves and to provide support for community members who may be struggling with the news. The meeting is being held virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions, but it is open to all members of the community.
Chief Rosanne Casimir of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation expressed the importance of acknowledging and remembering the children who were lost. She stated, “We must never forget the atrocities that were committed at residential schools and the impact they continue to have on our communities.”
The discovery of the unmarked graves has sparked a national conversation about the dark history of residential schools in Canada and the ongoing effects of colonization on Indigenous communities. It has also prompted calls for further investigations into other former residential school sites across the country.
The Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation is committed to working with the government and other Indigenous communities to ensure that the remains of the children are properly identified and returned to their families. They are also calling for a national day of mourning to honor the lives lost at residential schools.
As the survey and meeting continue, the community is reminded of the importance of acknowledging and addressing the painful legacy of residential schools. The Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation is taking a crucial step towards healing and honoring the children who never made it home.
