The Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nation, which brought attention to the discovery of 215 potential unmarked graves at a former residential school in 2021, is facing the challenging question of what to do with the site. The nation has mentioned possible scenarios for the future of the Kamloops Indian Residential School property, ranging from excavation to preserving its orchard as a sacred space for remembrance and healing.
According to a recent statement, the investigation by the nation is still ongoing, with initial findings pointing to specific areas that may contain burial sites characterized by signatures resembling burials. The statement also highlights the historical significance of the school, noting that more than 500 children from 38 Indigenous nations and 119 B.C. communities attended the institution during its peak operation. However, reaching a consensus on how to handle ancestral remains remains a difficult task, with the nation acknowledging that full agreement may never be achieved.
The process of repatriating any found remains to their respective home communities is described as intricate and sensitive, involving consultations with Indigenous nations, DNA analysis, and forensic expertise. The question of whether to excavate the site has sparked debate among survivors of the institution, with differing opinions on the importance of exhumation for honoring the deceased.
Tk’emlups Chief Rosanne Casimir has outlined the nation’s approach as a continuous journey from exhumation to memorialization, leveraging advanced technologies such as ground-penetrating radar, LIDAR scanning, and specially trained dogs. The investigation has also delved into historical records from the Catholic Church and governmental bodies at both provincial and federal levels.
The National Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 2015 report shed light on the severe mistreatment suffered by children at residential schools across Canada, including emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, along with a minimum of 4,100 recorded deaths. Specific records detailed at least 51 fatalities at the Kamloops school from 1914 to 1963, with reports from 1918 highlighting concerns about insufficient nutrition for children at the institution.
The Kamloops Indian Residential School operated from 1890 to 1969 under the Catholic Church’s administration, transitioning to a day school controlled by the Canadian government until its closure in 1978.