Recent Developments in Tke̓ mlúps Burial Site Investigation Amidst Historic Agreement Signing
Tke̓mlúps te Secwépemc Leader, Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir, Provides Update on Kamloops Residential School Gravesite Investigation
“That is a very sensitive step moving forward and definitely would entail a lot of steps in place and conversations and working with our survivors and community and the nations that have been impacted,” Casimir said at a press conference on Thursday.
This announcement coincided with the unveiling of a significant step towards truth and reconciliation, marked by the upcoming signing of a new Sacred Covenant on Easter Sunday. The Covenant, following a visit to the school site, delineates a historical narrative, shared truths, and actionable commitments. These include strategies for memorializing residential school children, promoting information transparency and collaboration to unveil truths about missing children, as well as facilitating the sharing of archival materials and records held by Catholic entities.
“I was part of a historical journey to address the Roman Catholic Church at the highest level, meeting the Holy See himself, representing our survivors and our people that brought forth their messages with the hope of building meaningful steps towards reconciliation while seeking justice in whatever forum our people seek on the atrocities that took place at Roman Catholic-run Indian Residential Schools with the realities of representing a First Nation still moving forward the aftermath of a school and the sacred care of unmarked burials,” Casimir said.
