WLFN Chief on Pope Francis Apology

Courtesy of Williams Lake First Nation:

Williams Lake First Nation (WLFN) understands that the content of this press release could be triggering for some people. 

WLFN would like our members and the wider community to know that it is ok to ask for help. Indian Residential School Survivors Society: 1-866-925-4419 Hope for Wellness helpline: 1-855-242-3310 

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On Monday, July 25th , Pope Francis apologized for the Catholic Church’s role in the catastrophic legacy of residential schools during a visit to Maskwacis, Alberta. 

Pope Francis apologized for members of the Catholic Church who cooperated with Canada’s devastating policy of the Indigenous residential school, saying the forced assimilation of Indigenous peoples into Christian society destroyed their cultures, severed their families, and marginalized generations in ways still being felt now. 

“In our community, it is a mix of emotions and there is going to be a lot of healing that needs to happen for our members. The Pope visiting our country and issuing again another empty apology leads to a lot of anger within our community. An apology is great but let us take it another step further with what the Catholic Churches have done to our communities and get them to acknowledge the attempted genocide of First Nations people, of our culture, our history and our language” states WLFN Chief Willie Sellars.

City of WL Response to Open Letter from WLFN Chief Willie Sellars

Courtesy of the City of Williams Lake:

In response to an open letter issued by Williams Lake First Nation Chief Willie Sellars critical of a recent social media post shared by Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb on Friday, October 29, the City of Williams Lake is addressing the matter sincerely and seriously.

Chief Sellars’ open letter to the City criticizes a social media post shared by Mayor Cobb on Friday morning, October 29, titled ‘Residential schools – the other side of the story.’ In the letter, Chief Sellars requests City of Williams Lake Council to clarify its position in relation to residential schools and their impact on First Nations people.

“We received the letter Friday and have had ongoing discussions throughout the weekend between City staff and members of Council, and we will be providing a formal response on Tuesday, November 2 during our regular Council meeting,” said City of Williams Lake Chief Administrative Officer Gary Muraca. “The City of Williams Lake takes this matter seriously, and continues to work toward meaningful reconciliation.”

The City of Williams Lake remains committed to reconciliation efforts in collaboration with our First Nations neighbours moving forward.

Condemnation of comments of WL Mayor W. Cobb re: Residential Schools

Yesterday evening - the Williams Lake Tribune reported on a Facebook post from Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb about residential schools/"other side of the story" -- you can read that here

Upon learning of this -- Williams Lake First Nation Kukpi7 (Chief) Willie Sellars issued an Open Letter to Williams Lake City Council about Mayor Cobb's Facebook post - read the letter here.  Kukpi7 Sellars has asked for a response from Williams Lake City Council by end of day on Monday, November 1st

The public response to the Facebook post of Mayor Cobb was swift and predictable -- widespread condemnation of the Facebook post.  As of the writing of this post -- the Williams Lake Tribune Facebook page had recorded 103 comments and 103 shares of the Tribune news story

In my opinion - the Facebook post of Mayor Cobb was a "gross error in judgement" and as Kukpi7 Sellars has appropriately noted:

"We (WLFN) can no longer abide the City of Williams Lake, or any of its elected officials, trying to advance a narrative which is a slap in the face to our community, to other First Nations communities, or to the vast majority of Canadians who acknowledge the horror of residential schools and who want to assist with reconciliation"

Put bluntly -- my Cariboo RD Area Alternate Director, Phyllis Webstad, is a residential school survivor and there is NO such thing as "other sides" in residential school horrors, particularly with the news coming from Kamloops and elsewhere across Canada about child graves at residential schools... 

I hope that Williams Lake City Council will reflect appropriately over the weekend and when responding to the letter of Williams Lake First Nation next week, it will do so with true reconciliation between Indigenous and Non Indigenous Canadians in mind -- both in writing and in person...

SF