Statement on the 215 Indigenous children found buried at residential school site

May 31, 2021

We stand with the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation and all Indigenous peoples and families who suffer, and died, from being forced into Canada’s shameful residential school system. We mourn and honour the 215 children found buried at the Kamloops Indian Residential School site and the countless many more – both known and still unknown –who lost their lives or had their lives forever damaged because of the residential school system.

We echo the call of many First Nations leaders who are calling on the province of British Columbia and government of Canada to directly address these atrocities. We continue to call on governments at all levels acknowledge that Canada has historically participated and continues to participate in the genocide of Indigenous peoples, genuinely listen to and respect the sovereignty of Indigenous peoples, and commit on a path towards true reconciliation by taking immediate action to follow the Canada Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action as a meaningful first step.

More Resources:

National Indian Residential School 24-Hour Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419

KUU-US Crisis Line Society (24/7, within BC): 1-800-588-8717 or kuu-uscrisisline.com