Supports offered, education encouraged in wake of Kamloops Residential School burial site discovery
TK’EMLUPS — Throughout the region there are audible, visible signs of support for Indigenous communities in grieving after the discovery of 215 child burial sites near the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.
In Kamloops, many people have chosen to wear orange as a nod to the victims and survivors of the Residential School System. Some will place teddy bears outside of their front doors Monday evening (May 31) and hundreds have paid their respects at the monument outside of the school.
The memorial in front of the main building is covered in letters and flowers, while hundreds of lights and shoes decorate the hillside. Nearby, a sacred fire has been lit and hand drumming circles have been held over the past few evenings.
CFJC crews spoke with several people who paid respects to the memorial, including intergenerational survivors Alicia and Vikki Peters.
“It’s sad that we have to come together like this, but it’s powerful how we all came together when we were at the arena singing and sharing our prayer songs together,” says Alicia Peters. “That’s what lifts our people up.”
The elder Peters says education will be crucial in the weeks to come. She notes the stories heard over the years finally are spreading across the nation.
“People weren’t allowed to learn about our people. It’s never in books or the movies — the true story. And more is coming to a head now.”
In schools Monday, students and staff wore orange to acknowledge the children who were found. Orange Shirt Day is normally held on September 30, but School District 73 joined the rest of B.C districts in encouraging students and staff to don the bright colour this week.
“Many thought it would be appropriate to resurface that Orange Shirt Day movement that happens on September 30.” says Mike Bowden, the District Principal of Aboriginal Education.
There are approximately 3,000 Indigenous students within School District 73 and, according to Bowden, that makes up roughly 20 per cent of the district student body. He says the district has counselling resources in schools and is working with communities to determine what supports are needed for Indigenous teachers and staff as well.
“They’re strong, strong individuals because as you can imagine, they have to process their own trauma and then find ways to support the students and families also,” he explains. “It’s a work in progress right now.”
Crisis help lines have been set up for community members, survivors and their families (see image below) and a steady stream of people have come to pay respects on the grounds of the old institution. For many, coming to the memorial is an emotional experience.
Jennifer Lewis is a wellness manager for the Okanagan Nation Alliance who stopped by the display, and says there’s a long road of recovery ahead before reconciliation is reached.
“Reconciliation has to do first of all with admitting the truth. And the truth is that Canada committed genocide against our people,” she says. “Purposefully, intentionally committed genocide. And it’s one thing to say it, and it’s another thing to act like that’s what happened.”
For some, the findings served as confirmation of stories they’ve heard since childhood, and others came to a sudden realization that there is more to learn about the residential school system and who it impacted.
As someone who had prior knowledge of residential school impacts, Peters adds it’s extremely important for people to learn about residential schools and colonization in Canada.
“The best thing that you can do for our people is educate yourself on these matters. And maybe take a look and open up your eyes, open up your heart to see what our people have gone through.”
Image Credit: First Nations Health Authority
