MAYBE YOU DIDN’T AND DON’T want Justin Trudeau to come to Kamloops.
That’s fair. There are plenty of reasons residents would want him to stay away.
But the Tk’emlups te Secwepemec wanted him to come.
They sent two invitations to the prime minister’s office, offering him the opportunity to work meaningfully toward truth and reconciliation by being present with survivors and intergenerational survivors, hearing their stories and seeing their tears.
On Wednesday, the eve of the first ever National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the prime minister’s official itinerary said he would spend Thursday in private meetings in Ottawa.
Then Thursday, Global News revealed Trudeau was in Tofino, his holiday destination of choice, with his family.
And he flew right over Tk’emlups territory to get there.
Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir was diplomatic when asked about Trudeau rebuffing her invitations, but was clearly disappointed.
Trudeau tweeted Thursday that he spent time on the phone with Indigenous elders, listening and learning. That’s good, but also absolutely the least he could do. Leaders should do more.
The only national leader who has been here to honour the children was Jagmeet Singh, months ago.
For Trudeau, landing at Kamloops Airport would have been so, so easy.
Flying right on by was nothing short of an act of cowardice.
Maybe Justin Trudeau is scared to see those gravesites.
Maybe he’s scared to look Indigenous people in the eye and try to explain how his government is moving toward reconciliation in a way that others before have not.
Maybe he’s scared of being held accountable for his government’s missteps and inaction.
When Tk’emlups te Secwepemc came forward with its findings in May, most Canadians acknowledged they could no longer look away from the horrors of our past.
The truth was staring them so plainly in the face that it could no longer be plausibly ignored.
But Justin Trudeau is still trying to look away.
As he plays with his kids on Chesterman Beach this week, living the life of privilege into which he was born, it’s possible Trudeau will think of all the many Indigenous children who were taken from their families and prevented from living the lives into which they were born.
It’s more likely, though, that he will end his vacation, fly over Tk’emlups territory one more time on his way back to Ottawa, and push the reconciliation file back to a dusty corner on his desk, only to be forgotten again.
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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.
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For more information:
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
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