Five years ago on May 25, Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation shared preliminary findings of an investigation into the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School that indicated the presence of over 200 potential burials.
On Monday, the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN) and Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) marked the anniversary by reaffirming their support for and solidarity with Residential School survivors and by speaking out in the defence of truth-telling.
UBCIC said it took a stand in "solidarity with all survivors and intergenerational survivors, with all First Nations who are being actively harmed by Residential School denialism, and in defence of the truth".
"Today marks a period of profound reflection, reawakened grieving and the pursuit of justice and reconciliation," said UBCIC president, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip.
"In the five years since the announcement of potential burials at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, the public conscience of Canada has fractured and First Nations across the country have carried out the heavy and unyielding work of truth-telling.
"UBCIC commends the rigorous First Nations-led investigations into former Residential School sites and the unwavering efforts to identify children taken by the Residential School System and to ensure they remain the focus of our collective memory."
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Leaders acknowledge Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation's "courageous step" of speaking out
Chief Councillor Linda Innes, UBCIC Vice-President, noted that Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc took "the courageous step of being the first to publicly share the commonly held truth amongst First Nations, that the Residential School System was responsible for the deaths of Indigenous children".
"Over the past five years, Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc and other First Nations have been targeted by hateful and racist denialist rhetoric," she said.
"UBCIC commends Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc for their committed physical and archival investigative process and categorically rejects Residential School denialism promoted by a vocal few. Attempts to minimise, cast doubt upon or erase the well-documented atrocities of Residential Schools is little more than racism, white supremacy and colonial violence."
UBCIC Secretary-Treasurer Chief Marilyn Slett said the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs "acknowledges the ongoing pain experienced by survivors and their families who still live without answers, who carry heart wrenching memories and who have their lived experience undermined by hateful rhetoric".
"We stand with you on your healing journey and acknowledge your enduring courage and will to survive for the betterment of our future generations.
"UBCIC calls on the public to respect the lived experience of survivors, to respect the stringent and painstaking investigations into former Residential School sites and to listen to oral history and recognise that the legacy of the Residential School System continues to have real and devastating impacts."
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'First Nations continue to be deeply impacted by the Residential School system'
The BC Assembly of First Nations said on the "solemn occasion" of the T'kemlúps te Secwépemc Announcement 5th anniversary, the organisation "remembers and honours the children whose lives were tragically lost and discovered in unmarked graves at the Kamloops Residential School".
"We stand in solidarity with Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir, the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc community, and all First Nations peoples as we reflect on this profound tragedy and loss. First Nations continue to be deeply impacted by the Residential School system, and their voices continue to carry the histories and grief of their experiences," the Assembly said in a statement.
"First Nations draw strength from our spirituality, resilience, and unbreakable connection to our lands and cultures. BCAFN honours the courage of survivors like BCAFN Knowledge Keeper Harvey McLeod, Dr. Robert Joseph and all other survivors who continue to share their truths, awakening us all to the ongoing legacy of this atrocity.
"As Canadians move forward, we must commit to the path of healing, justice, and reconciliation. BCAFN calls on all levels of government to take meaningful action on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action, ensuring respect for all the survivors who were traumatized and the children who were lost to these institutions. This significant anniversary is a time to learn, reflect, and unite in the spirit of love and lasting change."
For readers in Australia
13 YARN - 13 92 76
Lifeline - 13 11 14
For Canadian readers
First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line and On-line
Toll-Free: 1-855-242-3310
Indian Residential School Survivors Society
Toll-free: 1-800-721-0066
KUU-US Crisis Line. Toll-Free: 1-800-588-8717
(First Nations and Indigenous specific)
310- Mental Health: 310-6789 (no area code)
Suicide Crisis Line: 1-800-784-2433
