News and Events
Statement to honor the 215 children - Kamloops Residential School
2021-06-03
Storytellers of Canada – Conteurs du Canada (SC-CC) statement to honor the 215 children whose remains were discovered at the Kamloops Residential School, British Columbia
Posted June 3, 2021
We as an organization are deeply saddened to learn about the remains of 215 Indigenous children that were found at the Kamloops Residential School last week. We grieve with the families and communities that are affected by the heinous occurrences which resulted in this discovery.
We acknowledge that the injustices of the Residential School system are not stories of a distant past but are still being felt immensely to this day. These are stories that must be told by Indigenous people.
As those stories are told, Canada must listen with heart and spirit and accompany those who are in mourning at this time.
We must continue to work towards establishing the trust necessary to allow truth to emerge, a story of the new relationship that effectively addresses past and present injustices.
SC-CC is committed to providing space and platforms for Indigenous voices to share their stories, fully participating in our organization at all levels, to learn from Indigenous educators in the art of Indigenous storytelling, in ways of knowing and being.
We mourn the stories that have been lost and never heard. We cannot rewrite past stories, but we express the hope that we can learn to listen- and create- new ones.
A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line has also been set up to provide support for former students and those affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866-925-4419. Learn more on the Indian Residential School Survivors Society’s website.