“To bring justice to the children who never made it home is to be able to identify who they are, bringing peace to the families and truth about the children’s passing,” said Kúkpi7 Rosanne Casimir of the Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc.
On May 27, 2021 Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc confirmed an unthinkable loss—the remains of 215 children who were students of the Kamloops Indian Residential School. Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc is the home community of the largest school in the residential school system.
On Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024, the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc signed “a sacred covenant” with the Roman Catholic archdioceses of Vancouver and Kamloops in ceremony. It outlines the historical record, will establish what the parties call shared truths and contain commitments to action in the future.
Recently I was sharing about the impacts of colonialism on Indigenous people, and particularly the intergenerational trauma of the residential school system. Those in the sharing circle began to recall that day in May 2021 when they heard the announcement of children buried in unmarked graves at a residential school. They shared their shock, grief, unbelief, and hurt as well as their prayers for healing for the families and communities impacted.
Since this announcement in May 2021 many other First Nations communities have begun to search the school sites in their territories with ground penetrating radar with similar findings. There are 140 former residential school sites in Canada.
This is justice--the validation of the truth of the residential school system; the honoring of the ancestors and survivors; and to identify who they are, bringing peace to the families and truth about the children’s passing.
I live in Stó:lō territory and in December 2021 Stó:lō Nation announced a three-year plan to search the grounds of four institutions in the territory. In September 2023, when gathered at the site of Pekw'xe:yles (St. Mary's Residential School), it was announced that 158 children have been identified. The Grand Chiefs assert that this is not about numbers but about honoring the ancestors and the survivors. Cyril Pierre, a member of the Katzie First Nation and survivor of St. Mary's Indian Residential School, states: "This isn't a victory. This isn't a win. This is justice. This is a validation of what me and my people have gone through in residential schools driven by the government with the backbone of the church".
Following the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was on September 30, 2021. On March 9, 2023, BC declared September 30 as a statutory holiday--a day to honour the resilience, dignity and strength of survivors and intergenerational survivors and remember the children who never came home. It's an opportunity to engage and educate people about B.C.'s colonial history and how it has and continues to impact Indigenous communities.
On April 1, 2022 Pope Francis issued an apology for the role of the Roman Catholic Church in the harm caused to generations of Indigenous people. Archbishop J. Michael Miller of Vancouver Roman Catholic archdiocese confirms that all records in its possession have been made available to help identify the missing students.
To echo the words of Kúkpi7 Rosanne Casimir of the Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc, Cyril Pierre of Katzie First Nation and the Grand Chiefs of Stó:lō Nation, this is justice--the validation of the truth of the residential school system; the honoring of the ancestors and survivors; and to identify who they are, bringing peace to the families and truth about the children’s passing.
To be able to identify the children who never came home and to know the truth about the children’s passing, it is essential that all records and archives from every school across Canada, wherever they are being held, including the records held in the Vatican be made available in a full and transparent way.
This is justice— being sorry which leads to changed attitudes and actions; respectfully living in such a way that all are treated with respect and dignity
To be able to honor the ancestors and survivors, conversations with residential school survivors, the people of Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc and other First Nations whose children were forcibly removed to attend Kamloops Indian Residential School, are needed to determine steps forward in this sensitive work.
In the nearly three years since the initial announcement of the 215 children in May 2021, there have been some steps forward in the journey. Apologies are gratefully accepted, however God calls us to sorrow and repentance. Repentance involves a change of mind; a change of heart that leads to actions.
The church has caused great harm to generations of Indigenous peoples and justice has not been served for the atrocities of the past. The Apostle Paul reminds the church in Corinth that they are the sons and daughters of the Most High God and exhorts them to walk in the promise of His goodness and faithfulness by cleansing themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit (1 Corinthians 7:1). The Bible describes the sorrow that leads to repentance in 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 (NKJV): “Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
This is justice— being sorry which leads to changed attitudes and actions; respectfully living in such a way that all are treated with respect and dignity; acknowledging the systemic racism in every area of society and finding ways to rid our society of all racism, and rejoicing as others thrive and God is glorified.
Hearts Exchanged goes beyond the headlines into deep work that wrestles with how our churches can become places of belonging and embrace God’s call to reconciliation with Indigenous neighbours. Your church can access learning grants to practice reconciliation alongside others on similar journeys. Contact us for more details.
Photo: CRC members attend a time of learning at St. Mary's a former residential school mentioned in this story.
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