Next Thursday is Canada’s first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.
Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc of Kamloops has called on people across BC, Canada and even the world to join them on Sept. 30 at 2:15 pm to honour all the missing children of former residential schools.
The First Nation chose 2:15 pm because of the discovery of the 215 children’s graves on the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School (KIRS) at the end of May.
“It’s time to honour the children and the unrelenting spirit of these ancestors,” stated Kukpi7 (chief) Rosanne Casimir.
“It’s time [...] for the healing of the Indian Residential Schools Survivors who carried the burden of knowing where the children were buried and [...] the families and communities whose children did not come home.”
Since the discovery of the children at KIRS, more of Canada’s former residential schools have been searched and more grave sites were discovered.
The Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan and Penelakut Tribe in western BC are among those who discovered graves at former schools.
Casimir explains that Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc wanted to offer a safe way for people to connect, support and participate in the national day of recognition with respect to public health regulations due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
People are invited to drum and sing to honour the children lost at residential schools, survivors and their families and learn the traditional Secwépemc honour song through this link.
“We invite you to share this song, to teach it and record it in schools, workplaces, and living rooms,” Casimir explains.
“The confirmation of the missing children has impacted people locally, regionally, nationally and even globally. Secwepemc Elders have said that it is the children that are going to bring us together. We want to make the world a better place for children everywhere and give them hope and assurance that every child matters.”
