File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By David Walker

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Peters should have been more open-minded discussing residential schools

Nov 27, 2025 | 3:40 PM

DEAR MR. PETERS:

It has taken me a couple of weeks to write to you regarding your segment on November 14th, 2025. Although I haven’t agreed with all your comments over the years, I believe your objective has been to get people to talk or at least discuss or debate the subject. That in itself should have value in our current society. However, your comments on November 14th went beyond what I believe is your objective and I found it quite offensive.

In this day and age, it seems we are asked to be either for something or against it, black or white. We have lost our ability to see shades of grey; to disagree and still accept there is validity to another point of view. I would have thought someone in your position would be a little more open-minded and not jump to the populist point of view. Populist views are an attempt to define what is seen as a social wrong, are usually politically correct for the time, do little to define more complex issues and usually provide no direction to resolving the issue.

Before I’m branded as a radical right-wing racist or other derogatory term, I give you a bit of background. My great-great grandfather immigrated to Canada in 1843 and settled in New Brunswick. At the time, there were few women and he married an Indigenous woman (like many others). In the late 1920s, my grandfather moved west and married an Indigenous woman. My grandmother was born in Saskatchewan in 1908 and did attend residential school for a time. I lived in Kamloops and went to high school during the mid 1960s, left to go to university and returned upon my early retirement in mid 2010s.

I had discussions with my grandmother about school. Her comments were remembrances of friends she had there and observations that a lot of families took their children to the school because of sicknesses and family situations. She said many of those children died. I also had two friends in high school whose families moved off the reserve in Kamloops because their parents felt the attitudes and social situation was not going to be of any help to their children’s future. Len Marchand, former MP for Kamloops, stated that his time at residential school was good. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission stated that they were unable to spend a lot of time reviewing the positive comments about the schools as there were far more negative comments. Many of the stories and comments were made by individuals two or three generations after the fact. I had to take the information given me and try to reconcile the explosive comments Ms. Casimir and others had made about genocide. I fully agree that what happened in those schools needs to be told and understood by all citizens of this country and reconciliation — bringing together again in love and friendship, accepting something disagreeable and reaching a compromise agreement — is one aspect. Another important part is the truth.

CFJC-TV

Kamloops born-and-raised Dylana Kneeshaw to succeed Bill O'Donovan as CFJC-TV lead anchor

Dec 13, 2025

TWO & OUT

PETERS: Boyle's supportive housing move is data-driven decision-making gone wrong

Dec 12, 2025

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: December 11, 2025

Dec 11, 2025

Truth comes in many forms. Personal experiences, historical records and books and articles published from research. We both know any and all of those noted can be tainted by personal bias and misinterpretation of events — ask any police officer about first-hand comments about an accident. You stated people need to know their history. I submit that that also stands for opinion writers. Most historical documents give one view only; that is what reconciliation is about. Go back to the 1840s and see how the USA dealt with their march west as compared to Canada. Consider the situation that existed when the residential schools started and, more importantly, why. What were the options that would meet the needs, demands and expectations of the Indigenous people for education for their people? I fully accept the fact that there was much damage done to the cultural integrity of the aboriginal peoples (I’m reluctant to use the word native people; I’m a native of this country). There are many other books and resource materials that provide information for consideration as truth. I’m sure you have read Grave Error by Champion and Flanagan. I wouldn’t recommend it as a truly historical document, but it did fill in many holes for me when the conversation of genocide began. There are many papers and articles regarding treaties and working documents that provide clarity to truth. On November 23, an opinion article published in the National Post entitled, “Canada wasn’t stolen from Indigenous People”, provided perspective or at least a different view from populist culture. John Todd wrote of the local indigenous people. Although not specifically referencing their culture, he said they hunted, fished and were always fighting with other tribes.

On November 14, you mentioned your feelings about OneBC. I agree they are out there and Ultra-right. However, they have said some things that shouldn’t be just cast aside. For example, the impact of land claims and the amount of money that is going to reconciliation issues that doesn’t, by any normal interpretation, have anything to do with reconciliation. It seems to me the more we talk and act on reconciliation, the further we become polarized and separated rather than coming together and compromising. Many people I know who fully believe we need to take responsibility and reconcile issues from the past are now coming forward. They are asking about the issues, the amount of money being spent and how that is helping. They are asking why everything is about money and if and when it will end. We have taken on our responsibility; don’t the aboriginal peoples have some responsibility to themselves? As you stated in your November 21 editorial, (I quote, not verbatim and in a different context); “When one party in a relationship takes advantage either financially or otherwise, it’s a toxic relationship.”

There are many other things I could say, but enough. Thank-you for taking the time to read my comments. Have a great day and keep the challenges going.

—

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.