Our Heartfelt Condolences

The staff and board of Kiwassa Neighbourhood House want to express our heartfelt condolences to Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nations and to Indigenous families across this country. The grief of discovering the bodies of 215 children whose deaths were never documented once again reminds us of the intention of residential schools to systematically remove children who are the heart of every family.

We are reminded that this is not an isolated incident and that Indigenous family, friends, and community members continue to face ongoing impacts of intergenerational trauma and continued racism in our colonial based systems of child welfare, criminal justice, and health care. For those of us who identify as settlers benefiting from colonial systems, we commit to upholding our commitment to education, advocacy, and healing.

We also understand that this news is profoundly painful for survivors of residential schools and their families. The Indian Residential School Survivors Emergency Crisis Line is available 24/7 for those that may need counselling and support 1-800-721-0066. Alternatively, the crisis line is also available 24/7 1-866-925-4419.