After public dressing-down, Trudeau says government will walk path of reconciliation with Tk’emlups

TK’EMLUPS TE SECWEPEMC — Canada’s prime minister met in person with Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc leadership today (Oct. 18), after not attending the first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation in Kamloops on September 30.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir and councillors and took a tour of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, before taking part in a presentation to the community.

According to Casimir, this week’s visit was bittersweet. The band had sent two unanswered invitations for Justin Trudeau to come to Tk’emlúps for the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, then heard of the PM’s trip to Tofino that day.

“The shock, anger, the sorrow and disbelief was palpable in our community, and it rippled throughout the world to say the least,” noted Casimir. During the presentation at the Tk’emlúps PowWow Arbour, Trudeau reiterated his apology to the community and says he also expressed that regret to Chief Casimir earlier this morning.

“After September 30, she (Casimir) could have chosen to turn her back on me and on the federal government. The community could have said, ‘You know what, we don’t have to deal with you anymore,’” stated Trudeau, “and yet she reached out, and said, ‘Please come and listen and learn, and we will walk this path together’, and that is why I’m here.”

Leaders from the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council (SNTC) spoke at the event, reiterating calls for the Canadian government to fulfill the calls to action laid out by the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

SNTC Tribal Chief/Kukpi7 Wayne Christian urged the recently re-elected prime minister to take action in improving Canada’s relationship with Indigenous peoples.

“When we say, ‘Knucwentwecw’, we actually do something. So I’m asking you prime minister, ‘Knucwentwecw ‘ — let’s help each other and do something. In the next 100 days as your cabinet comes to be in this next Monday, do something concrete. It’s really important.”

AFN National Chief Roseanne Archibald addressed the community and called for an independent investigation into the government of Canada’s actions around the residential school system, using international resources appointed by the United Nations.

Additionally, Chief Archibald presented the PM with the Healing Path Forward Accord, a document which outlines several commitments the Assembly wishes to see from the federal government. The platform includes steps related to truth, reconciliation and healing for First Nations, climate and conservation leadership, economic growth, promoting peace and rebuilding and strengthening First Nations.

Meantime, local band leadership has also asked for federal funding for a healing centre in Tk’emlups, on top of repeated requests for the release of student records to help identify missing children. Monday, Trudeau claimed the government has released records they had in their possession to the National Truth and Reconciliation Centre in Winnipeg.

“We will be working with you (Tk’emlups) on what you’ve said the community needs. From funding the healing centre, to working with you on an elder’s lodge, to continuing to get answers and closure and ensuring the proper commemoration to help the community and so many others grieve and heal.”

Survivors and intergenerational survivors also addressed the prime minister before he flew back to Ottawa, asking him to continue working towards justice for missing children, healing for survivors and the reclamation of Indigenous language and culture.

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For more information:

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada

Support Resources:

• KUU-US Crisis Line: 1-800-588-8717
• Tsow-Tun-Le Lum: 1-866-403-3123
• Indian Residential School Survivors Society Toll-Free Line: 1-800-721-0066
• 24hr National Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419