Truth and Reconciliation
The discovery of 215 children’s bodies found on the grounds of a residential school on the traditional lands of Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, now known as Kamloops, is a national tragedy. We are profoundly saddened by this discovery, and our thoughts are with Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation, and all Indigenous communities across Canada.
As an organization that has navigated over 125 years of Canadian history, we recognize the importance of standing in solidarity with our community members fighting for their rights, and the rights of others. We commit to looking at our settler-complicity in the ongoing oppression of Indigenous people as part of own 125 year old story, and to change the practices and policies built from colonization that we settlers continue to benefit from today.
We call on the Canadian Government to fully acknowledge, and address the atrocities suffered by the Indigenous people of this land, and to work effectively on providing full restitution for the past wrongs committed by the Crown, and the Church.
We as Kitsilano Neighbourhood House, located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, is committed to educating staff, volunteers and community members and celebrating the indigenous culture. We stand in solidarity.