File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Dylana Kneeshaw

CANADA'S RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL IMPACTS

Lengthy process ahead for Tk’emlúps and others working for answers around unmarked graves

Jun 10, 2022 | 3:55 PM

TK’EMLUPS — There’s no roadmap for how to handle an investigation like this, but Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc is doing what it can to lay out next steps for the unmarked graves detected near the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, while keeping other communities up to date.

Kúkpi7 (Chief) Rosanne Casimir says the trauma is widespread, as children from dozens of Indigenous communities were at the former institution during its operation.

“We all have our traditional and cultural protocols depending on where and which community we’re from, but most importantly it’s respecting and honouring that as well, because so many families have been impacted,” she explains.

It’s going to take time to answer key questions. Can those buried finally be identified? What caused their deaths, and does this match up with school records? And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Tk’emlúps is working with a careful balance of cultural, scientific and legal factors.

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“When I look at as we work on the next steps to identify those in the unmarked graves and collect the information regarding the operation of the school, it’s extremely important that all the legal processes be in place to support that and support the considerations that need to be made,” notes Casimir. “Whether it’s at the First Nations level, and/or the legal (level).”

At the same time, Tk’emlúps is trying to hold government and religious authorities accountable and get them involved.

“Our hope is that with the trip to the Vatican, those are some meaningful steps that really need to work towards reconciliation as well.”

Between the recent visit by Canada’s prime minister and Governor General Mary Simon, and a new special interlocutor appointed to the residential school file, Kúkpi7 Casimir feels it’s a stronger sign of committment to help.

“Truly appreciative of the governor general being here, the prime minister, you know following the mandates with ministers as well to ensure that we have the resources to make these steps move forward and that we have the support,” she says, “because we know that we can’t do it alone.”

There are many First Nations who have not begun the search process yet and Casimir says Tk’emlúps feels a level of responsibility to share what they’ve learned in the hopes that others can begin to get answers.