May 31, 2021

Sending condolences to the Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc First Nation

Centre for Suicide Prevention sends its condolences to the Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc First Nation for the tragic loss of its children. This is a day of reckoning for Canada – the unearthing of these children providing hard evidence for the evils Indigenous people have known and endured for generations. There is nothing we can say to ease the grief and suffering for this senseless loss of life and destruction of a society, but there is action to be taken.

The outcropping of the intergenerational trauma inflicted on First Peoples for more than a century continues today – higher suicide rates, homelessness, addictions and violence are all outcomes of this cultural ravaging. We need to take action.

Honourable Murray Sinclair calls on all Canadians as he says, “It’s not just a part of who we are as survivors – it’s a part of who we are as a nation.” This dark history is our history – not solely First Peoples’ history. Together, we are called to reconciliation, to make reparations with First Nations, Inuit and Metis. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s (TRC) final report lays out 94 Calls to Action for Canadians, at both the individual and the community level. “Without truth, there can be no reconciliation” states the TRC. We have the truth, now we need action. How will you honour these children?

  • Read the TRC Calls to Action and ask yourself how you can apply these calls to your life
  • Hold government officials accountable to the TRC by sending a letter asking that all the TRC Calls to Action be fulfilled
  • May 31, 2021, to remember children who were lost at residential schools, place teddy bears on your porch and keep your porch light on, or light a candle in the window
  • Smudge, pray for the children who were lost at residential schools and their families
  • Acknowledge the land on which your live, play and work; visit Native-Land.ca to learn more

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