Statement
May 23, 2022
UBCIC Honoured to Attend Tk’emlúps Memorial for Le Estcwicwéy̓; Calls on Canada and Pope for more Action
((Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – May 23, 2022) Today Tk’emlúps Te Secwépemc hosts a memorial in commemoration of Le Estcwicwéy̓ – the missing – nearly a year after they first confirmed the finding of 215 First Nations children in an unmarked grave at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.
Tk’emlúps invited the Pope to visit the site on his Canadian tour this July; however nowhere is BC included on the Pope’s itinerary. The Pope’s refusal to visit Tk’emlúps, and the apology he made last month in Rome which lacked accountability or remedy, show blatant disregard for protocol and meaningful acknowledgement of the harms committed by the Church against generations of Indigenous peoples. Meanwhile, we are still waiting for Canada to take ownership for its role in the systemic oppression of Indigenous people, to fully implements the Calls to Action, and to support the First Nations-led investigations into the unmarked grave sites across the country with sustainable funding, the release of documentation, and healing supports for all those affected. The UBCIC acknowledges the tremendous work of Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir of Tk’emlúps, and all First Nations leadership, who are guiding their communities with a good heart while carrying out investigations to bring their children home. We stand with the survivors/veterans and family members and share prayers for healing on this important day of memorial.
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Media inquiries:
Larry Read, Tk’emlúps media, 250-819-5255
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, UBCIC President, 250-490-5314
Chief Don Tom, UBCIC Vice-President, 250-813-3315
Kukpi7 Judy Wilson, UBCIC Secretary-Treasurer, c/o 604-312-1241
UBCIC is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
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