Tsuut'ina Nation marches honour memory of 215 children found buried in unmarked graves
More than 1,000 people silently marched in solidarity on the Tsuut'ina Nation Monday, wearing orange t-shirts remembering the 215 children whose remains were discovered in unmarked graves in Kamloops last week.
The march began at the nation’s health centre and proceeded to the Sportsplex outdoor rink for speeches, a pipe ceremony and drumming.
A spokesman for the nation said the turnout on Monday spoke volumes.
"I think it's a beautiful thing," said Coun. Kelsey Big Plume. "It shows that the awareness is spreading and people want to do something about it."
The event was intended to show solidarity with those who lost their lives.
Tsuut’ina also relates to the residential school system as it to had one on its land.
"A day school was here on the nation and our elders were part of that," said Big Plume. "I think what happened last week really triggered a lot of emotions from our people."
MASSIVE IMPACT
Patty Fraser said residential schools had a massive impact on her family.
"The residential school at St. Barnabas at Tsuut'ina is where my grandmother and her brothers went," she said.
Her two uncles Reginald and Bernard both had tuberculosis.
"They passed away here, along with their mother and my grandmother never knew where they were buried," said Fraser.
March in solidarity with Kamloops residential school children, June 7, 2021
KAMLOOPS
The Kamloops Indian Residential School operated between 1890 and 1978, and was one of Canada’s largest residential schools, housing as many as 500 students during a peak in enrolment in the 1950s.
The Catholic Church operated the residential school from 1890 to 1969 when the federal government, under Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, took it over and ran it as a local day school until 1978.
Monday’s march was a moment to remember for many marchers.
"When they passed on, they were not given that opportunity to be recognized and acknowledged and I think them being found really shows that what they didn’t get in their life, they could have now," said Big Plume.
Fraser said since the discovery, more and more Canadians are willing to learn about the country’s dark past and try and mend some wounds.
Instead of trying to fix things we have to just listen, listen to the stories and understand, she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Her fiance has been in prison for 49 years. She's trying to free him before it’s too late
She was lying in bed on a Thursday morning, thinking about the man she loved, hoping to win his freedom before time ran out.