At a news conference today, the Planning Committee for the St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School Commemoration Project announced a series of events and initiatives in the coming days and weeks to commemorate and create awareness and recognition of the residential school experience in the Cariboo. The project aims to encourage, support and engage in a shared First Nations and non-First Nations dialogue on how to achieve reconciliation in the Cariboo region, and to support efforts by all those affected by the legacy of this residential school as they continue on their personal healing journey. To achieve these objectives, the project aims to:
At a news
conference today, the Planning Committee for the St. Joseph’s Mission
Residential School Commemoration Project announced a series of events and
initiatives in the coming days and weeks to commemorate and create awareness
and recognition of the residential school experience in the Cariboo. The
project aims to encourage, support and engage in a shared First Nations and
non-First Nations dialogue on how to achieve reconciliation in the Cariboo
region, and to support efforts by all those affected by the legacy of this
residential school as they continue on their personal healing journey. To
achieve these objectives, the project aims to:
Be Inclusive:
Events are being planned through a multi-party planning committee who’s
membership includes: First Nations and Tribal councils; local government
leaders; former residential school students; School District 27; First Nations
schools, Civic organizations/Rotary Clubs, and the RCMP. We are also reaching
out to the faith based community.
Be Collaborative: Working with all the above partners
and others as they are identified to ensure that the project events respond to
the interests of all participants. The conference events will be done in
collaboration with the national Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We worked
with the current landowner and the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate to
place a monument at the site of the former residential school.
Be Supportive: Paying special attention to how we engage, communicate
and work with the former students involved in the SJM Reunion Facebook group.
Working with Health Canada (BC Region), the Interior Health Authority and the
Indian Residential School Survivors Society of BC to ensure appropriate mental
health counselling and other supports are available.
Be Respectful: Structuring events to: commemorate the residential
school experience and those who did not survive it; assist those affected by
the legacy to engage in their personal healing journey; and to engage First
Nations and non-First Nations in a dialogue about reconciliation in the Cariboo
region.
“The Truth
and Reconciliation Commission of Canada commends everyone involved in the St.
Joseph’s Mission Residential School Commemoration Project. You’ve put together
a program that’s comprehensive, meaningful and accessible. I look forward to
being a part of it,” stated the Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair, Chair of
the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
“First
Nations people who attended this school, like myself, have worked hard since
the day it closed in 1981 to seek justice for the wrongs we suffered and to
create a new legacy for our children and grandchildren. Doing this project is a
good way for us to figure out how we can do this together,” stated Chief Fred
Robbins of the Esketemc First Nation.
“I’d like
to acknowledge Chief Robbins for his vision and leadership to create this
one-of-a-kind project to create an opportunity for healing, reconciliation, and
moving forward,” stated City of Williams Lake Mayor Kerry Cook. “This project
is a great example of how First Nations and non-First Nations peoples can work
together towards healing, understanding, and common goals.”
“The
Cariboo Regional District is proud to have played a role in bringing all
communities throughout our region together for this momentous event,” stated
CRD Chair Al Richmond. “By gaining a better understanding of each other’s
cultures, heritage and the challenges we face, through this reconciliation
process, we will be able to move forward together in collaboration to create a
better Cariboo Chilcotin for all of its residents.”
The public
is welcome at all of the events summarized below:
· April 26 - School District 27 Professional
Development Day – The Commons, Williams Lake Secondary School (9 a.m. – 12
p.m.)
· April 28 - Public showing of youth/student
videos – The Commons, Williams Lake Secondary
School (1 p.m.)
· May 13-19 - Private Truth and Reconciliation
Commission individual statement gathering – Thompson Rivers University,
Williams Lake campus
· May 16-17 - Commemoration Conference and Town
Hall on Reconciliation with Truth and Reconciliation Commission – Gymnasium at
Thompson Rivers University, Williams Lake campus (8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.)
· May 16 - Monument unveiling ceremony – former
St. Joseph’s Mission Site (11 a.m.– 12 p.m.)
· May 17 -Monument unveiling ceremony – Boitanio Park (11
a.m. – 12 p.m.)
· May 18 - Truth and Reconciliation public
testimony gathering – Gymnasium at Thompson Rivers University, Williams Lake
campus (8:30 a.m.– 5:30 p.m.)
· May 18-19 - Former Residential School student
reunion - Williams Lake First Nation Pow Wow Arbor (rain location – Sugarcane
Gymnasium) (all day Saturday, Local bands Saturday evening, Sunday morning to
mid-afternoon)
Be Collaborative: Working with all the above partners and others as they are identified to ensure that the project events respond to the interests of all participants. The conference events will be done in collaboration with the national Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We worked with the current landowner and the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate to place a monument at the site of the former residential school.
Be Supportive: Paying special attention to how we engage, communicate and work with the former students involved in the SJM Reunion Facebook group. Working with Health Canada (BC Region), the Interior Health Authority and the Indian Residential School Survivors Society of BC to ensure appropriate mental health counselling and other supports are available.
Be Respectful: Structuring events to: commemorate the residential school experience and those who did not survive it; assist those affected by the legacy to engage in their personal healing journey; and to engage First Nations and non-First Nations in a dialogue about reconciliation in the Cariboo region.
“The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada commends everyone involved in the St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School Commemoration Project. You’ve put together a program that’s comprehensive, meaningful and accessible. I look forward to being a part of it,” stated the Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair, Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
“First Nations people who attended this school, like myself, have worked hard since the day it closed in 1981 to seek justice for the wrongs we suffered and to create a new legacy for our children and grandchildren. Doing this project is a good way for us to figure out how we can do this together,” stated Chief Fred Robbins of the Esketemc First Nation.
“I’d like to acknowledge Chief Robbins for his vision and leadership to create this one-of-a-kind project to create an opportunity for healing, reconciliation, and moving forward,” stated City of Williams Lake Mayor Kerry Cook. “This project is a great example of how First Nations and non-First Nations peoples can work together towards healing, understanding, and common goals.”
“The Cariboo Regional District is proud to have played a role in bringing all communities throughout our region together for this momentous event,” stated CRD Chair Al Richmond. “By gaining a better understanding of each other’s cultures, heritage and the challenges we face, through this reconciliation process, we will be able to move forward together in collaboration to create a better Cariboo Chilcotin for all of its residents.”
The public is welcome at all of the events summarized below:
• April 26 - School District 27 Professional Development Day – The Commons, Williams Lake Secondary School (9 a.m. – 12 p.m.)
• April 28 - Public showing of youth/student videos – The Commons, Williams Lake Secondary School (1 p.m.)
• May 13-19 - Private Truth and Reconciliation Commission individual statement gathering – Thompson Rivers University, Williams Lake campus
• May 16-17 - Commemoration Conference and Town Hall on Reconciliation with Truth and Reconciliation Commission – Gymnasium at Thompson Rivers University, Williams Lake campus (8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.)
• May 16 - Monument unveiling ceremony – former St. Joseph’s Mission Site (11 a.m.– 12 p.m.)
• May 17 -Monument unveiling ceremony – Boitanio Park (11 a.m. – 12 p.m.)
• May 18 - Truth and Reconciliation public testimony gathering – Gymnasium at Thompson Rivers University, Williams Lake campus (8:30 a.m.– 5:30 p.m.)
• May 18-19 - Former Residential School student reunion - Williams Lake First Nation Pow Wow Arbor (rain location – Sugarcane Gymnasium) (all day Saturday, Local bands Saturday evening, Sunday morning to mid-afternoon)
For more information, visit the commemoration project online at SJMcommemorationevents.com. For referrals to key individuals, please call 1-250-243-2261 (Cariboo) or 1-604-787-8638 (Vancouver) or email: htarbell@uniserve.com.
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