Island education leaders are expressing shock and sorrow at the discovery of the of remains of 215 Indigenous children at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.
Greater Victoria School District superintendent Shelley Green said the “incomprehensible tragedy” being experienced by the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc Nation has prompted action to be taken in case people need assistance.
“We have supports in place for our students, staff and families who may need assistance at this time,” she said in a message to the district.
Green said staff and students in the district are being invited to wear orange this week “to honour the lives of those children and demonstrate that every child matters.”
Flags are also being lowered to half-mast at schools throughout the province.
“As we move forward, I ask that we all take moment to recognize the harm caused by colonialism and commit to the work of healing and doing better together,” Green said. “Our communities are very interwoven so when one hurts, we all hurt.
“We must continue to support each other on the path to reconciliation, so please know we are here to support you.”
Cowichan Valley School Board chairwoman Candace Spilsbury said people throughout B.C., Canada and the world are trying to come to terms with what was found.
“The emotions are so deep and disturbing,” she said. “It’s just a nightmare, really, for us as Canadians that we would treat others in such a horrific way — and especially children.”
Spilsbury said that Cowichan Tribes, the largest First Nation in B.C., is prominent in the district. “They have felt this trauma.”
Sooke School District superintendent Scott Stinson said district flags are being flown at half-mast to recognize what happened in Kamloops and also to remember the thousands of children sent to residential schools in Canada.
He said that the school district is committed “to continue providing all children with opportunities to improve understanding and respect for Indigenous peoples.”
“We’ve been consulting with our local First Nations and elders to determine the best way to move forward through this, and they’ve supported us in having our flags lowered, as well as wearing orange.”
The elders have explained that the situation “is about discussion and conversation, not about silence,” Stinson said.
Stinson urged anyone wanting support to reach out to a teacher, principal or counsellor, and noted that a 24-hour crisis line has been set up at 1-866-925-4419.
Dave Eberwein, superintendent of the Saanich School District, said “the horrific tragedy” has had a significant impact on staff and students.
“So it was really important for us to make sure that our community — both our parent community and also our school communities — that there was extra support there for them if they needed it.”
He said the district is working with the WSANEC First Nation to ensure that it is respectful in its actions, and is developing material that can be used in classrooms.
It is vital to be sensitive to the trauma that some people are feeling, he said.
“We’ve also given teachers and administrators suggestions on how to handle questions that come from students.”
He said the district has an obligation to react with an educational focus in consultation with the WSANEC — one that looks at not only what has happened but also continues to pay attention to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
