Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir speaks on May 23, 2022, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau beside her. (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Dylana Kneeshaw

LE ESTCWICWÉY̓ MEMORIAL

‘Answers are still needed’: One year later, Tk’emlups honours Le Estcwicwéy̓

May 25, 2022 | 5:28 AM

TK’EMLUPS — It has now been one year since Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc (TteS) received confirmation from a ground-penetrating radar team that potential unmarked gravesites were detected around the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.

Tk’emlúps leadership then made an announcement on May 27, 2021 that garnered international attention. A year later on Monday (May 23), the community gathered to honour the missing children — known as Le Estcwicwéy̓ — and hear about what’s to come.

Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir opened the day with a reflection on the past year and pointed toward the work the band is undertaking for the future.

“What scientific investigation confirmed were the truths about our survivors and what they’ve always known. Too many children did not make it home. Today, answers still are needed.”

Governor General Mary Simon spoke of how the announcement highlighted the need to include more information about the residential schools in the Canadian education system.

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Simon said the time to claim ‘I didn’t know’, is now over.

“To all Canadians, I deliver this message. Indigenous families didn’t know what happened to their children, and many still don’t. Most Canadians didn’t know about residential schools. Now they do,” said Simon. “How then do we move forward from the shadows into the light and begin to heal?”

TteS Language and Culture Manager Ted Gottfriedson was heavily involved in the Le Estcwicwéy̓ events since the beginning, and hosted a presentation to the community about what led to the radar searches, and the outpouring of support that came in after the announcement was made.

Gottfriedson also made mention of how the name Le Estcwicwéy̓ became the common term, rather than ‘the 215’. He explained that many children in residential schools were assigned a number and continuing to use a number to refer to the missing children didn’t feel appropriate. (Le Estcwicwé’y means ‘the missing’, in Secwepemctsin)

The day was filled with speakers who acknowledged the existing trauma within communities, but the schedule also included culturally significant moments as well. Including jingle dress dancing, pipe carriers, hand drumming and songs.

There were also lighter breaks in the schedule, highlighted by musical entertainment from Joel West during the dinner break which brought the crowd out to dance.

Later into the day, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived, having made the trip to Tk’emlúps to speak to those in attendance and share dinner with elders and survivors.

“I also know that healing is a process that’s different for each person. So I’m here with a simple message — we’re here for you,” said Trudeau. “We’ll continue to remember the children who never returned and to support one another as we walk forward together.”

And at some points, those who didn’t want the Prime Minister at the event made their feelings known, calling out to him in anger as he spoke at the podium.

“To those who are still filled with hurt and anger, I hear that as well. I know that is real,” he responded.

Through the emotional ups and downs of the day, Kukpi7 Casimir kept a focus on the missing children who sparked it all, and vowed to keep working on a path forward.

Casimir reiterated there are plans to search other areas, continue working with a legal team and to advocate for funding to assist with healing centres.

“We have been damaged by the attack on our language and culture arising from the forced removal from our children. We know those harms. But we also know what we’re doing to revitalize that, we know that the world is standing behind us and supporting that,” she said.