residential schools

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pauses for a moment as he listens to Chief Rosanne Casimir as she speaks in Kamloops, B.C., Monday, Oct. 18, 2021. Senior members of a British Columbia First Nation have issued an open letter to Trudeau, offering seven immediate steps he could take to prove he is serious about reconciliation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Tk’emlúps open letter sets steps for PM to prove commitment to reconciliation

Letter from family heads of the Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc Nation comes a day after Trudeau visit

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pauses for a moment as he listens to Chief Rosanne Casimir as she speaks in Kamloops, B.C., Monday, Oct. 18, 2021. Senior members of a British Columbia First Nation have issued an open letter to Trudeau, offering seven immediate steps he could take to prove he is serious about reconciliation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau bows his head as he listens to chief Rosanne Casimir at Tk’emlups the Sewepemc in Kamloops, B.C. Monday, Oct. 18, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Trudeau visit to Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc a chance to rectify Tofino mistake: chief

Casimir: ‘The shock, anger and sorrow and disbelief was palpable in our community’

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau bows his head as he listens to chief Rosanne Casimir at Tk’emlups the Sewepemc in Kamloops, B.C. Monday, Oct. 18, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
A rock with the message “Every Child Matters” painted on it sits at a memorial outside the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, in Kamloops, B.C., on Thursday, July 15, 2021. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected in Kamloops, B.C., on Monday, where the Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc Nation announced in May the finding of what are believed to be some 200 unmarked graves at the site of a former residential school.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Trudeau to visit Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc Nation in Kamloops

Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc has called on Ottawa to fund a healing centre for residential school survivors

A rock with the message “Every Child Matters” painted on it sits at a memorial outside the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, in Kamloops, B.C., on Thursday, July 15, 2021. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected in Kamloops, B.C., on Monday, where the Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc Nation announced in May the finding of what are believed to be some 200 unmarked graves at the site of a former residential school.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
A message is seen on the window of the Sk’elep School of Excellence as the Canadian, Tk’emlups te Secwepemc and B.C. flags are reflected in the window flying at half mast to honour the 215 children whose remains have been discovered buried near the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, in Kamloops, B.C., on Saturday, June 5, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to visit Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc in B.C. next week

Trip follows not responding to invitations to visit on National Day for Truth and Reconcilation

A message is seen on the window of the Sk’elep School of Excellence as the Canadian, Tk’emlups te Secwepemc and B.C. flags are reflected in the window flying at half mast to honour the 215 children whose remains have been discovered buried near the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, in Kamloops, B.C., on Saturday, June 5, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Regional Chief Shane Gottfriedson looks on as Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, speaks at the Assembly of First Nations’ annual general meeting at the Songhees Wellness Centre in Victoria on October 24, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Federal Court settlement approved for day scholars at Indian residential schools

Survivors will each receive compensation of $10,000, as will the estates of those who died

Regional Chief Shane Gottfriedson looks on as Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs, speaks at the Assembly of First Nations’ annual general meeting at the Songhees Wellness Centre in Victoria on October 24, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Nanaimo Indian Hospital survivor Melven <ins>(Sx̄wen)</ins> Jones recounts the abuse he endured at six years old, as he sits outside his home in Victoria. (Arnold Lim/Black Press Media)

‘It has to be heard’: Nanaimo Indian Hospital survivor recounts torture he endured

Melven (Sx̄wen) Jones was forcibly held for two years

Nanaimo Indian Hospital survivor Melven <ins>(Sx̄wen)</ins> Jones recounts the abuse he endured at six years old, as he sits outside his home in Victoria. (Arnold Lim/Black Press Media)
Victoria’s Orange Shirt Day founders Eddy Charlie (left) and Kristin Spray (right) stand on the steps of the B.C. legislature. (Arnold Lim/Black Press)

Victoria’s Orange Shirt Day is born out of trauma, friendship and hope

‘There’s room in the circle for everyone’: Sept. 30 invites reconciliation

Victoria’s Orange Shirt Day founders Eddy Charlie (left) and Kristin Spray (right) stand on the steps of the B.C. legislature. (Arnold Lim/Black Press)
A survivor of the Alberni residential school, Kathleen Horne, left, and her husband Doug LaFortune stand outside the First Peoples House at the University of Victoria. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Tsawout residential school survivor no longer afraid to share her story

‘We, as the survivors, can tell the stories for the ones who didn’t get to go home’

A survivor of the Alberni residential school, Kathleen Horne, left, and her husband Doug LaFortune stand outside the First Peoples House at the University of Victoria. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
Kendra Gage, executive director of Hulitan Family and Community Services Society, at the society’s Langford location. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

‘It’s about really understanding our history’: Acknowledging truths the first step in reconciliation

The path forward starts with a commitment to learning and listening

Kendra Gage, executive director of Hulitan Family and Community Services Society, at the society’s Langford location. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
Nanaimo Indian Hospital survivor Melven <ins>(Sx̄wen)</ins> Jones recounts the abuse he endured at six years old, as he sits outside his home in Victoria. (Arnold Lim/Black Press Media)

‘It has to be heard’: Greater Victoria survivor recounts torture he endured at Indian Hospital

Melven (Sx̄wen) Jones was forcibly held at the Nanaimo Indian Hospital for two years

Nanaimo Indian Hospital survivor Melven <ins>(Sx̄wen)</ins> Jones recounts the abuse he endured at six years old, as he sits outside his home in Victoria. (Arnold Lim/Black Press Media)
A sign commemorating victims of residential schools is attached to a fence line in front of homes on the Siksika First Nation, east of Calgary near Gliechen, Alta., Tuesday, June 29, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

B.C. allocates $1.5M to mental health services for Indigenous Peoples, residential school survivors

Money will go towards providing culturally safe, trauma informed services

A sign commemorating victims of residential schools is attached to a fence line in front of homes on the Siksika First Nation, east of Calgary near Gliechen, Alta., Tuesday, June 29, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
A sign commemorating victims of residential schools is attached to a fence line in front of homes on the Siksika First Nation, east of Calgary near Gliechen, Alta., Tuesday, June 29, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Catholic bishop hopes residential school apology will improve Indigenous relations

Indigenous leaders say remorseful sentiments need to be backed up by meaningful actions

A sign commemorating victims of residential schools is attached to a fence line in front of homes on the Siksika First Nation, east of Calgary near Gliechen, Alta., Tuesday, June 29, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Tim Hortons franchise co-owner, former Tkemlups te Secwepemc First Nation chief and former B.C. regional chief for the Assembly of First Nations Shane Gottfriedson holds a box of orange-sprinkled Tim Hortons doughnuts in this undated handout photo taken from video. The discovery of the unmarked graves of children, some as young as three years old, sent shockwaves across the country last spring. It also propelled a group of Indigenous Tim Hortons owners to come up with fundraising campaign for residential school survivors involving an orange-sprinkled doughnut. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Tim Hortons *MANDATORY CREDIT*

Indigenous Tim Hortons owners drive campaign for residential school survivors

Tim Hortons will donate 100 per cent of the retail price of orange-sprinkled doughnuts for one

Tim Hortons franchise co-owner, former Tkemlups te Secwepemc First Nation chief and former B.C. regional chief for the Assembly of First Nations Shane Gottfriedson holds a box of orange-sprinkled Tim Hortons doughnuts in this undated handout photo taken from video. The discovery of the unmarked graves of children, some as young as three years old, sent shockwaves across the country last spring. It also propelled a group of Indigenous Tim Hortons owners to come up with fundraising campaign for residential school survivors involving an orange-sprinkled doughnut. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Tim Hortons *MANDATORY CREDIT*
A woman places one of 215 pairs of children’s shoes on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery as a memorial to the 215 children whose remains have been found buried at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, May 28, 2021. When the Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc Nation announced the discovery of 215 unmarked graves found at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C., Canadians had to face the horrific realities Indigenous children and youth had to live while being forced to attend residential schools. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Survivor offers advice on how to honour National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Geraldine Shingoose believes it’s important to listen to survivors’ experiences

A woman places one of 215 pairs of children’s shoes on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery as a memorial to the 215 children whose remains have been found buried at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, May 28, 2021. When the Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc Nation announced the discovery of 215 unmarked graves found at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C., Canadians had to face the horrific realities Indigenous children and youth had to live while being forced to attend residential schools. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
People have placed children shoes in front of churches and court buildings across Canada, including in Hope, B.C. Here, several shoes sit on the steps of the Roman Catholic Our Lady of Good Hope church, on May 31, 2021. Across the road, a display of orange shirts, crosses and flowers was being created. (Jessica Peters/ Hope Standard)

Canadian Catholic bishops ‘apologize unequivocally’ for residential schools

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops agreed to the wording of the one-page statement

People have placed children shoes in front of churches and court buildings across Canada, including in Hope, B.C. Here, several shoes sit on the steps of the Roman Catholic Our Lady of Good Hope church, on May 31, 2021. Across the road, a display of orange shirts, crosses and flowers was being created. (Jessica Peters/ Hope Standard)
Two hundred and fifteen lights are placed on the lawn outside the Residential School in Kamloops, B.C., Saturday, June, 13, 2021. The remains of 215 children were discovered buried near the former Kamloops Indian Residential School earlier this month. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Tk’emlups Nation extends invitation to mark National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Nation encouraging participants to teach the honour song in schools, workplaces and at home

Two hundred and fifteen lights are placed on the lawn outside the Residential School in Kamloops, B.C., Saturday, June, 13, 2021. The remains of 215 children were discovered buried near the former Kamloops Indian Residential School earlier this month. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Stephanie Bernard at a walk/run event in Port Hardy. (Stephanie Bernard photo)

Breaking the cycle: An Indigenous woman’s search for ‘Sanala’

Intergenerational residential schools trauma shared for the ‘Sacred and Strong’ report

Stephanie Bernard at a walk/run event in Port Hardy. (Stephanie Bernard photo)
Stephanie Bernard at a walk/run event in Port Hardy. (Stephanie Bernard photo)

Breaking the cycle: An Indigenous woman’s search for ‘Sanala’

Intergenerational residential schools trauma shared for the ‘Sacred and Strong’ report

Stephanie Bernard at a walk/run event in Port Hardy. (Stephanie Bernard photo)
A number of opinions from the community have come forward on what, if anything, the cross that was cut down this summer on Mount Tzouhalem should be replaced with. (File photo)

Cowichan residents ponder how — or if — fallen cross should be replaced

Vandals cut down longstanding landmark at the top of Duncan area’s Mount Tzouhalem in July

A number of opinions from the community have come forward on what, if anything, the cross that was cut down this summer on Mount Tzouhalem should be replaced with. (File photo)
A series of orange hearts, marking place names and numbers corresponding with known residential school sites where unmarked graves have been found, hang in Rutledge Park in Saanich. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Anonymous orange hearts hang in support throughout Saanich park

Sept. 30 marks Orange Shirt Day, and now national day of reconciliation

A series of orange hearts, marking place names and numbers corresponding with known residential school sites where unmarked graves have been found, hang in Rutledge Park in Saanich. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)