B.C. FIRST NATION CALLS TRUDEAU'S TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION DAY INVITE SNUB AN ''INSULT''
Oct 07, 2021
By Bob Komsic
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Leaders from the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nation say in a statement that Justin Trudeau ”missed an opportunity” to show his commitment to residential school survivors by not responding to their invitations to take part in an event on the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
(Chief Rosanne Casimir)
The statement from the First Nation in Kamloops says the lack of response to two letters they sent the prime minister was ”an added insult,” but that it looks forward to welcoming him later this month.
The community says Trudeau also ignored an alternative offer to record a video address that could have been played during their ceremony.
The prime minister has said it was a ”mistake” to go to B.C. to join his vacationing family on a day meant to honour survivors, and that he regrets it.
The First Nation is calling on Ottawa to commit to funding a new healing centre to support residential school survivors and their families, ”so that tangible progress toward meaningful reconciliation can happen.”
Tk’emlups te Secwepemc Nation is near the site of the former residential school in Kamloops, where about 200 possible unmarked graves were discovered earlier this year.