Nelson is devastated to learn about the 215 children found buried in mass graves at the Kamloops Indian Residential School, situated on the home of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation.
This tragic discovery is yet another reminder of our nation’s dark history and on-going trauma caused by the Canadian Indian Residential School system.
Our hearts are with those who lost their lives at residential schools, the survivors, and Indigenous families who have lost children, relatives, and friends.
Today, we are encouraging our employees to wear orange to honour the lives of the 215 children found at Kamloops Indian Residential School and all the generations of Indigenous peoples impacted by the residential school system. We will also be making a donation to the Legacy of Hope Foundation, a national charitable Indigenous organization with the mandate to educate and create awareness and understanding of the residential school system.
As an education company, we recognize our responsibility to work together towards reconciliation:
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to our Indigenous Education mission statement in taking action towards reconciliation by collaborating with Indigenous communities to create authentic First Nations, Métis, and Inuit resources that empower educators and inspire Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians to walk humbly together to promote intercultural understanding, empathy and mutual respect. However, our commitment goes beyond developing educational resources.”
Linda Isaac, National Director of Indigenous Education, Equity and Inclusion
We continue our mission to be a partner on the path to true reconciliation by supporting important initiatives such as Orange Shirt Day, professional development opportunities for educators, and our Indigenous Student Scholarships to help empower our leaders of tomorrow.
For more information please contact:
Linda Isaac, National Director of Indigenous Education, Equity and Inclusion
Linda.Isaac@mail.nelson.com