Our hearts are with Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc

Dear FRP-BC Members and Friends,

At FRP-BC, our hearts are with the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation and all of those who mourn the loss of the 215 children found buried at the Kamloops Indian Residential School as well as the thousands whose remains have not been found.

The grief is immense for Nations across Canada. We understand that it is important for settlers and organizations to bear witness to this grief, anger, and yes, to the urgent calls for more action. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) published its final report in December 2015. Of the 94 Calls to Action issued by the TRC, only eight have been implemented.

Justice Murray Sinclair recently made a statement to CBC about his work as the Chair of the TRC and specifically, about the unmarked graves across the country. As horrifying as this news is, Indigenous Peoples have been talking about it for generations. It is important to remember that. You can watch his statement here.

Reconciliation Canada recently hosted four online gatherings on Facebook designed to create understanding of the impacts of this discovery and support the long-term healing of those affected. We found this to be an important way to bear witness and to learn. You can find the recordings for these gatherings on Reconciliation Canada’s Facebook page.

At this time, FRP-BC is committing to our own decolonization work. This is only a start:

• Providing our members with free trainings such as the recent Inclusive Trauma Informed Practice Through a Lens of Cultural Safety and the upcoming Indigenous Sharing Session on Reconciliation- “What It Is and What It Is Not”
• Ensuring that employees of FRP-BC take part in continued professional development related to concrete actions and working alongside Indigenous Peoples
• Revisiting FRP-BC’s Statement of Reconciliation to ensure this is a working document that reflects ongoing initiatives

If you wish to learn more about how to support Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc at this time, you can refer to this statement from the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Office of the Chief.

At FRP-BC, we remain committed to the ongoing practice of reconciliation and allyship, and recognize our responsibility to continuous learning, advocacy, and reconciliation with the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island. 

Thank you,

FRP-BC