We join the nation in mourning the death of 215 children found at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. We are devastated to hear of this news and grieve with their families, communities and Indigenous Peoples across Canada. We stand in solidarity with the Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc, Indian Residential School survivors and Indigenous communities in Canada.
The Government of Canada is responsible for the atrocities that occurred in the Indian Residential Schools system and the current oppression and neglect of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. “We call on the Government of Canada to fully implement the 94 Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, and the 231 Calls For Justice of the National Inquiry into the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. We commit ourselves to the Calls to Action and Calls for Justice in ways that respect and honour Indigenous Peoples, and the call to action from Chief, Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir of the Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc in a May 31, 2021 statement:
‘We ask all Canadians to reacquaint themselves with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Final Report and Calls to Action – upholding the heavy lifting already done by the survivors, intergenerational survivors, and the TRC. In addition, to show your solidarity, we encourage you to wear an orange shirt
and start conversations with your neighbours about why you are doing so.’” (OCASI, 2021) (Adapted from OCASI, 2021, https://ocasi.org/honour-215-lost-children)