Canada: Bodies of 215 children found at old residential school

Kamloops Indian Residential School

Source: Vatican News/Diocese of Kamloops/Twitter/BC Gov

Archbishop J Michael Miller of Vancouver, British Columbia in western Canada, has expresses his "deep sadness" following the discovery of the bodies of 215 children buried at the site of a former residential school in the town of Kamloops.

In a statement, Archbishop Miller said: "I am filled with deep sadness at the troubling news about the 215 children found buried at the Kamloops Indian Residential School. The pain that such news causes reminds us of our ongoing need to bring light to every tragic situation that occurred in residential schools run by the Church.

"The passage of time does not erase the suffering that touches the Indigenous communities affected, and we pledge to do whatever we can to heal that suffering."

Kamloops Bishop Joseph Nguyen also expressed his sadness, saying: "I humbly join so many who are heartbroken and horrified" by the news.

"On behalf of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kamloops, I express my deepest sympathy to Chief Rosanne Casimir of the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc Nation and to all who are mourning this tragedy and an unspeakable loss. No words of sorrow could adequately describe this horrific discovery."

The remains of 215 children, some as young as three years old, were found buried on the site of what was once Canada's largest Indigenous residential school.

Chief Rosanne Casimir of the Tk'emlups te Secwépemc First Nation said that the remains were confirmed last weekend with the help of ground-penetrating radar. She also said the deaths were undocumented.

The Kamloops Indian Residential School was founded in 1890 and administered by religious authorities and the government. The aim of the school was to inculturate native children. Hundreds of Secwepemc children attended the school, many forcibly removed from their homes following the introduction of mandatory attendance laws in the 1920s. Pupils were not allowed to speak their native language and were whipped for using it. At one point, it was the largest residential school in Canada.

The Catholic administered school had as many as 500 students in the 1950s. It closed in 1978.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a Tweet: "The news that remains were found at the former Kamloops residential school breaks my heart - it is a painful reminder of that dark and shameful chapter of our country's history. I am thinking about everyone affected by this distressing news. We are here for you."

The Canadian Government website carries the message: "If you are looking for someone to talk to about this news, please reach out to the National Indian Residential School Crisis Line. It is there to provide 24/7 support to former residential school students and those affected, and it can be reached by calling 1-866-925-4419."

LINK

Diocese of Kamloops - www.rcdk.org/

Vancouver Sun report: https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/remains-of-215-children-found-at-former-kamloops-residential-school-first-nation…

Kamloops Indian Residential School - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamloops_Indian_Residential_School