Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be in Kamloops on Monday, Oct. 18, to meet with members of Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc.

It will be his first visit to the community since Tk’emlúps announced the discovery of what’s believed to be more than 200 unmarked graves on the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School back in May.

The visit comes just under two weeks after the Prime Minister apologized to the First Nation for not responding to a pair of invitations to join them to mark the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, on Sept. 30, choosing instead to vacation with his family in Tofino.

Last week, Tk’emlúps said the lack of response by Trudeau was an “insult”.

“His presence [on Sept. 30] would have exhibited to the world his personal commitment to enacting real change and rectifying the historical wrongs of the residential school system and to personally support grieving Indian residential school survivors,” Tk’emlúps said in a statement on Oct. 7.

“His attendance would have been an acknowledgement to all survivors, their families, and communities – a clear public gesture would have brought peace to many.”

On Monday, Trudeau will meet with Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir and the pair will hold a joint press conference and participate in an event at noon at the Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc PowWow Arbour with members of the community, including residential school survivors.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief RoseAnne Archibald and Shuswap Nation Tribal Council Kukpi7 Wayne Christian are also scheduled to speak that day.

“This is not a public event and is only open to TteS Members,” Tk’emlúps said Friday.

There will be a live-stream of the Monday event. You can find details here.