
(Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir Credit: Abby Zieverink)
The federal government appointed the former executive director of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as the Special Interlocutor.
Kimberly Murray has been named for the position on a two year mandate to work with Indigenous communities across Canada to work with Indigenous communities across Canada, including Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc, to protect and preserve burial sites discovered at former residential schools.
Tk’emlúps Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir spoke at Wednesdays announcement, saying the band is looking forward to working with Murray.
“There’s a lot of work that needs to get done, a lot of steps that need to be taken, and when we are looking at the forensic work that needs to be taken as well, and while seeking justice and the families and their respect for them and the survivors of the communities that have been impacted.”
Casimir explains that for Tk’emlúps, ensuring Secwepmec laws are being honoured, both legally and spiritually, is at the forefront.
“As we work on these next steps to identify the unmarked graves and collect information, regarding the operation of the school it will be so important for all those legal processes in order for considerations to be understood, and that’s from us as First Nations but also non-First Nations.”
She is hopeful Murray will help to to achieve measure of comfort and justice for both residential school survivors and those impacted by unmarked graves.
“We are looking forward to the Special Interlocutor, to be able to engage with us, and advising the federal government on the proper frameworks and approaches and the steps that need to be taken to guide us and support us as we move forward with our own communities but also all of us as well.”
Since learning about the likely presence of children on the Kamloops Indian Residential school grounds, just over a year ago, Tk’emlúps explained in a release that they have been working to determine how many children there were, who they were, who their people were and how they came to be buried there.
The release added that the band is also hoping for answers on how the missing should be cared for and what the needs are for both them, and their families.
“We have heard from Minister Lametti, on behalf of Canada, that Canada respects our jurisdiction and is there to provide whatever support it can to ensure that we can meet our obligations to L’Estcwicwéý and their people,” said Tk’emlúps.
“The mandate of the Special Interlocutor confirms this.”