Flags at city-owned properties in 91大黄鸭 are at half-mast today in solidarity after the discovery of the remains of 215 children on grounds of a former Kamloops residential school.
鈥淎ll we can do right now is express is our deepest condolences to the generations of families who continue to live with their own grief wrought by the residential school system 鈥� and now the confirmation that innocent, helpless children were doomed by that nightmarish system,鈥� said Mayor Colin Basran in a statement issued Saturday.
Indigenous children from many Interior B.C. communities were sent to the Kamloops Indian Residential School, the largest school in the country鈥檚 Indian Affairs residential school system, where the Tk鈥檈mlups te Secw茅pemc First Nation confirmed the discovery last Thursday (May 27). Chief Rosanne Casimir called it an 鈥渦nthinkable loss that was spoken about, but never documented by the Kamloops Indian Residential School.鈥�
鈥淲e had a knowing in our community that we were able to verify. To our knowledge, these missing children are undocumented deaths,鈥� Casimir said. 鈥淪ome were as young as three years old. We sought out a way to confirm that knowing out of deepest respect and love for those lost children and their families, understanding that Tk鈥檈ml煤ps te Secwe虂pemc is the final resting place of these children.鈥�
The RCMP is working with Tk鈥檈ml煤ps te Secw茅pemc community leaders in determining the next steps and the best way to be involved, while at the same time being supportive, respectful and culturally sensitive to the Indigenous communities that are impacted.
鈥淭he misery of this discovery also re-emphasizes our nation鈥檚 need to follow through on reconciliation with Indigenous peoples across Canada,鈥� said Basran. 鈥淲e have taken some steps locally on this journey, and we are committed to continuing that process.鈥�
鈥淭hese gestures of remorse and support for Indigenous peoples are important and necessary today, but long-term healing and reconciliation must be a focus for all of us in the days, weeks, months and years ahead.鈥�
- With files from Kamloops This Week
READ MORE: Work underway for forensics experts to identify B.C. school remains
READ MORE: B.C. premier 鈥榟orrified鈥� at discovery of remains at Kamloops residential school site
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