Cariboo community members publicly call for investigation into bullying and racism within School District 27
WILLIAMS LAKE, B.C. — Parents, grandparents and community members throughout the Cariboo-Chilcotin region are calling for an investigation into bullying, discrimination, harassment and racial violence in schools within School District 27 (SD27).
Representatives from Esk’etemc First Nation and the Concerned Parents and Caregivers of Williams Lake (CPWL) group peacefully marched to the front of SD27’s offices and wore pink to publicly ask B.C.’s Education and Child Care Minister Lisa Beare to respond to their calls.
In September 2024, Esk’etemc Kukpi7 Fred Robins asked the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) for help after hearing concerning stories from his members. The UBCIC then called the Ministry of Education and Child are to address the claims of bullying and racism at SD27 as heard in testimonials and letters from Esk’etemc children, youth, families and support staff.
“Every day that goes by, we hear more and more stories of children and youth, not just from our Nation of Esk’etemc, but throughout the region, who fear going to school,” Robbins says. “We have been asking the Ministry of Education and Child Care for an investigation for over a year now. Our last letter, sent in early January of this year, asked Minister Beare to meet with us and have a conversation to hear the concerns and the stories of our community members. Our request for that meeting has gone unanswered.”
