OTTAWA — Simon Dyer, deputy executive director at Pembina Institute, made the following statement in response to the discovery of the remains of 215 children buried near a residential school in Kamloops, B.C.:
“The discovery of the unmarked graves of 215 Indigenous children near a residential school in Kamloops, B.C. is heartbreaking and, sadly, not surprising to the people of Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation and other Indigenous communities who understand that this grave site is not an isolated incident.
“We share the deep and collective sorrow over the devastating loss of these young lives. The Pembina Institute supports the call to identify the children found at this site and the cause of their deaths in a full and transparent manner to Indigenous peoples in accordance with the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action.
“The Pembina Institute recognizes the ongoing impacts of colonialism and the residential school system. We will continue to listen, engage and deepen relationships with Indigenous communities on the climate change and energy issues we work on. We will take direction from guiding documents such as the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Principles as well as from Indigenous peoples and communities that we work directly with. We commit to better incorporate the commission's calls to action in our work.”
Contact
Victoria Foote
Senior manager strategic communications, Pembina Institute
647-290-9384
