At CTN, we join all Canadians in mourning the loss of 215 children whose remains were found buried on the grounds of a former residential school on Tk’emlups te Secwépemc First Nation in Kamloops, B.C.

These children had families who missed them and loved them. Their deaths matter to us all.

This tragic news is a sombre reminder of the histories of Indigenous peoples in Canada and the injustices they have endured, and still endure to this day. It also brings to light the profound and lasting intergenerational pain and trauma events like these can have on Indigenous families.

Although the last residential school closed in 1996, their horrific legacy lives on. First established in the 1870’s, the government-funded, church-run schools were used to physically separate Indigenous children from their families and strip them of their culture, language and identity the impact of which is still being felt today.

It is important to promote reconciliation and inspire positive action, which is in line with CTN’s commitment to engage in ongoing conversations around the importance of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. Below are links to a few resources that may help deepen our collective understanding of the legacy of residential schools, the issues facing Indigenous communities and how we can support them.

For those who are struggling with this news, or if you know anyone else who may need support, please call the Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419.

Resources:
Indian Residential School Survivors Society (irsss.ca)
Orange Shirt Day
Books to teach kids about residential schools
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada