Walpole Island’s Chief is calling for action in the wake of last week’s horrific discovery of the remains of 215 children found buried in an unmarked grave near the Kamloops Residential School.
Chief Charles Sampson issued a statement on Monday, calling for Canada to be held accountable for crimes against humanity and the history of government mistreatment of Indigenous peoples, including genocide and ethnic cleansing.
The Council of Three Fires also demands all children who attended residential schools be accounted for and those who went missing be identified and given proper ceremonial burial.
“We know there are many other lost children at other residential school sites across this land,” Sampson says. “We know that they suffered much pain, horror and abuse – and how, we can openly grieve with those broken families who could not welcome home the return of their little ones – the hurt we feel is indescribable.”
The First Nation community is also asking for a National Day of Mourning and shutdown of businesses to demonstrate the deep sense of sorrow for the lost children.
Hundreds of pairs of children’s shoes have been placed at the residential school monument on Walpole Island and orange flags raised to honour those who were lost.
