Residential School Statement
The Northumberland Labour Council is saddened to hear about the discovery of a mass burial site containing the bodies of two hundred and fifteen indigenous children at the former Kamloops Residential School in B.C. There are not enough words to express the grief and anger that our community feels. The discovery of the two hundred and fifteen buried children reminds us that we must focus on the shameful acts towards the Indigenous Peoples in Canadian history. The First Nations, Inuit and Metis community members continue to face abuse, violence and neglect from the Canadian government. We need to take action now.
The Northumberland Labour Council is urging Canadian government to move on several actions:
- Have properly funded archaeological investigations continue to take place at all former residential school sites across Canada and publicly report on all unmarked graves.
- Identify the buried children, and inform their families. Return children to their family for proper burial.
- Put an end to all litigation against the residential school survivors of St. Anne’s and properly compensate these residential school survivors.
- Put an end to all litigation against the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society and pay the $40,000 as awarded by the Human Rights Tribunal.
- End the water crisis that exists in our First Nation communities and provide them access to clean drinking water.
- Implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 calls to action.
- Create National Day of Mourning for Indigenous Peoples.
Dan Tobin
President
Northumberland Labour Council
