Kamloops residential school survivor pens song to the 215 children

Arnie Narcisse spent 11 years in the residential school system, including eight years at the Kamloops Indian Residential School.

In May, the remains of 215 children were found on the site of the school in Kamloops through the use of ground-penetrating radar.

“It was just the usual shock and horror, but more than anything anger. Just anger at the fact that it happened in the first place, and the fact that it was allowed to happen,” said Narcisse.

Narcisse is a songwriter and performer and on June 2, while sitting at home, the words began following.

“I was singing a couple of other songs, and then I started thinking about the kids. Things started coming to me, so I just started writing down a few lines. I’d say from the moment I had the thought to the time I completed the song was about 45 minutes,” added Narcisse.

His song is titled “We were little children”. He performed the song in the Q101 studios.

Narcisse hopes his song will keep the conversation going.

“We don’t want this thing to die like yesterday’s news,” concluded Narcisse.