Home / News Releases / News Release: Kukpi7 Urges the Survivors and the Public to Brace for more Graves
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJune 24, 2021
Splatsin Chief encourages impacted individuals to ask for support; warns of future discoveries
Secwepemcúl̓ecw (Shuswap) – Splatsin is just one of the many Indigenous communities impacted by the discovery of the 215 + unmarked graves in Kamloops, and most recently, 751 unmarked graves in Saskatchewan, however, Splatsin Kukpi7 and Secwépemc Tribal Chief and a survivor of the 60’s Scoop himself, Wayne Christian, believes it is important for the public – both Indigenous and non-Indigenous – to brace for more horrific discoveries in the coming weeks and months. He believes this can be aided by supporting each other and learning Canada’s true history.
“It’s such a shock and I feel so horrific for all of us,” says Christian. “For those of you who attended the residential schools or were connected to it in some way, I want to ask you to think about the support you may need. If you didn’t attend a residential school yourself, I want you to reach out to people in your community who did attend or might be impacted by it, and check-in with them.”
Christian added that if there are stories to be told, let the survivors talk.
“A lot of people still won’t talk about the horrors that took place in these so-called schools. A lot of people will not believe that there are unmarked burials at these sites. There are many, many stories that our people heard and knew – these recent discoveries confirm what our oral histories taught us.”
For Canadians who are not directly impacted by these unimaginable events, Christian suggested that they learn their true history. “Canadians elect the governing body no matter what political party and Canadians need to hold their government accountable to act. This is a non-partisan issue – In the words of our ancestral Chiefs of 1910 – we need to stand each other up to be great and good,” Christian added.
Splatsin has released an open presentation to anyone wanting to learn more about Secwépemc history and the residential school system, available on their website here.
Christian added that by Knucwentwecw (Secwepemctsin for helping each other), and by learning our history and opening dialogue when individuals and communities when they are ready, are critical in preparing the public for many more grave discoveries in the coming weeks and months across the country.
Anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of their residential school experience can access 24-hour, toll-free, and confidential crisis lines:
Splatsin band members can access support by calling the Splatsin Health Centre to speak with a Mental Wellness Practitioner on weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at (250) 838-9538.
The Splatsin People reside on reserve lands adjacent to the City of Enderby to the south and across the Shuswap River to the east, within the traditional and unceded territory of the Secwépemc, the largest Interior Salish-speaking First Nation in Canada. Their traditional territory stretches from the B.C./Alberta border near the Yellowhead Pass to the plateau west of the Fraser River, southeast to the Arrow Lakes, and the upper reaches of the Columbia River encompassing 180,000 square kilometres, 32 communities, and a population of 15,000 people. The Splatsin and Secwépemc has total jurisdiction and title to all of their people, lands, and resources and have not surrendered, ceded, or released them to the government.
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Media Contact:
Dudley Coulter, Director of Communicationso (250) 838-6496 ext. 705c (250) 306-1541e [email protected]