A long-awaited report on the findings at the Kamloops Indian Residential School will be made public by Tk’emlups te Secwepemc next week.
There is a virtual public presentation scheduled next Thursday morning, July 15, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Among the speakers will be Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir, legal counsel from Tk’emlups te Secwepemc, the ground penetrating radar specialist, along with other experts. Survivors of the Kamloops Residential School and intergenerational survivors will also be there.
On May 27, Tk’emlups initially announced the discovery of 215 unmarked graves near the residential school site as a result of ground-penetrating radar work. Since then, there have been similar findings reported by First Nations across Canada, including 751 gravesites discovered on the Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan.
B.C.’s Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, Murray Rankin, told NL News that the report on the findings at the Kamloops Indian Residential School will be a guiding document for some other bands in the province.
The B.C. government also announced $12 million in funding to support First Nations with their investigative work at former residential school sites in the province.
Later on Thursday, there is also a special assembly planned for members of Tk’emlups te Secwepemc. Band members will be able to interact with Chief and Council, the legal team as well as the people who led the ground penetrating radar work in Kamloops.
Support services for residential school survivors in British Columbia:
* The KUU-US Crisis Line Society provides a 24-hour, provincewide Indigenous crisis line for Indigenous peoples in B.C. Adults, call 250 723-4050. Children and youth, call 250 723-2040. Toll-free: 1 800 588-8717
* First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line for Indigenous people across Canada toll-free 1 855 242-3310 or chat online: https://www.hopeforwellness.ca/
* The Métis Crisis Line for Métis people in B.C., available 24 hours a day at 1 833 MétisBC: 1 833 638-4722
* Tsow Tun Le Lum for Indigenous peoples in B.C., phone: 1 888 403-3123
* Indian Residential School Survivors Society, phone: 1 800 721-0066 or 604 985-4464
* 24-Hour National Crisis Line for residential school survivors and others affected: 1 866 925-4419
