On May 27, 2021, 215 children were found dead in Kamloops, B.C, in a former residential school. 

They were found, by ground-penetrating radar, buried. Some of them were as young as three years old. Their deaths have never been documented but a lot of reports were made.

This school opened its doors in 1890 and closed them in 1969. Located 350 kilometres from Vancouver, it was the largest school in the area. Later, the administration from the Catholic Church was taken over by the federal government. 

About 500 students were registered there, who were all coming from the First Nations communities across the country, and never returned home but over 150 000 between the 1830s and until they closed in 1969. 

In total, 4100 deaths have been confirmed but the NCTR thinks that the true total could be much higher. 

Research has been made in respect and in love for all of them and their families.

Some reports have been done about this school because Indigenous children were mistreated and neglected. The goal of the school was to remove all of their culture, their identities or their connexion with their families without any respect. A lot of them were also talking about sexual and physical abuse in those residential schools.

 “Unthinkable loss that was spoken about but never documented at the Kamloops Indian Residential School,”  said Chief Rosanne Casimir of the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nation.

“It’s all good and well to the federal government to make gestures of goodwill and support regarding the tragedy,” said Casimir. “There is an important ownership and accountability to both Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc and all communities and families that are affected. And that needs to happen and take place.” 

Right now, we need to honour these poor children.