Statement on Kamloops Residential School death of 215 Indigenous children

For Immediate Release:

In honour of 215 Indigenous Children

June 16, 2021, Sault Ste. Marie: The Algoma Community Legal Clinic mourns the loss of the 215 children found buried in unmarked burial sites at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. We mourn with the families, the Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation, residential school survivors, and Indigenous communities across Canada. We mourn the thousands of Indigenous children who never came home, lost to the residential school system.

The gruesome discovery in Kamloops is a stark reminder of the legacy of residential schools in Canada, a system that included Shingwauk Indian Residential School in Sault Ste. Marie. We must stand together to face this legacy and address the wrongs that continue to cause trauma and suffering.

As a justice-seeking organization representing people living in poverty, we are committed to work to achieve Truth and Reconciliation in ways that respect and honour Indigenous peoples.

We call on the Governments of Canada, Ontario and all municipalities to fully implement the 94 Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, and the 231 Calls For Justice of the National Inquiry into the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

We call on all levels of government to support residential school survivors and provide the necessary resources to ensure every victim is found.

May this terror spur all of us to action. May this grim toll begin a path toward healing. May this validation lead to greater protection of our greatest assets - our children.