Tk'emlups Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir speaking to the media with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau following Monday's (May 23) memorial event. (Image Credit: Adam Donnelly / CFJC Today)

By Dylana Kneeshaw

WHAT'S NEXT

Tk’emlúps plans future searches and healing steps with backing from prime minister

May 25, 2022 | 4:15 PM

TK’EMLUPS — One year since Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc announced the detection of probable burial sites around the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, Canada’s prime minister says the response from the federal government has been directed by what First Nations determine necessary.

“Three or four years ago we put forward funding that would allow for some of the work being done right now,” stated PM Justin Trudeau while attending the Le Estcwicwéy̓ one-year memorial event. “But it’s not about what the federal government is doing; it’s about the federal government being there for what communities are choosing to do.”

Another round of ground-penetrating radar is set to take place in other areas around the former school. Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir says a task force has been established with experts who will lead those next steps.

“It is about finding out the truth and bringing peace to the home communities and to the families,” explains Casimir, “and when we go to those next steps in doing the further analysis, I know that we’re going to be sharing that information, but we’ll also be working with all those who have been impacted.”

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Tk’emlúps also wants to build a healing centre for elders, survivors and intergenerational survivors to have regular access to cultural and mental health supports.

“And those steps for us are also about a healing centre, it’s about our elders lodge. Both needed and requested from so many from afar as part of that healing journey.”

The prime minister met face to face with survivors during his latest visit and says he plans to commit to assisting the band with establishing that healing centre.

“Elders who have lived through much are able to get the kind of support and stability and security that they so much deserve. And an elder lodge and a healing centre can be a key part of that,” adds Trudeau. “And we’re working very closely to try and figure out how to be able to get that done the best way possible.”

In a broader sense, Trudeau says the healing process will have to be led by local communities and the federal government plans to back those directives with funding.

“And that’s where investments in mental health supports, investments in infrastructure, hearing about the need for new community infrastructure, new leadership — new buildings for leadership. New pathways forward to be able to meet the tremendous positive ambition for this community,” says Trudeau.