Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Michael Reeve / Q-101 Merritt

Residential Schools

‘We always knew that this was happening’: Kamloops residential school survivor

May 28, 2021 | 1:56 PM

UPPER NICOLA, B.C. — “I didn’t realize how strong I was. I was strong because I came home. I didn’t know that till this afternoon,” said Chief Harvey McLeod.

The Chief of the Upper Nicola Band attended the Kamloops residential school for two years, 1966-68, as did both his parents, and his eight siblings. On Thursday (May 27), a heart-wrenching discovery was made on the grounds of that very school as the remains of 215 children were found buried on the site, some potentially as young as three.

The Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc confirmed Thursday (May 27) it has found the remains of 215 children buried on the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.

“So much hurt and pain came out in a matter of seconds. Just felt for our families that all went there. We have a large number of people from this community (Upper Nicola) that went to school there,” said McLeod. “We all have different experiences but a lot of hurt and pain and shame and anger leaving there.”

Chief Rosanne Casimir says the presence of the remains was “a knowing” in the Tk’emlups community, but was confirmed this past weekend with the help of a ground-penetrating radar specialist.

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“We always knew that this was happening there, but it was in our own minds, we had no proof other than our own experience,” added Chief McLeod. “We hear really horrific stories about what happened and dealing with our people that had passed on, and what they were forced to do, to bury them. And it wasn’t the grown-ups, it was the babies.”

“I went back to the two years that I attended. I know that there were incidents happening there because I went through a lot of experiences myself. I know people that just disappeared, and we assumed that they ran away and got away and are at home somewhere, but never did see them again,” said McLeod.

The school in Kamloops was at one point the largest in Canada and one of the three schools that first nations children from the Nicola Valley would attend. The other two were located in Lytton and Mission.

Casimir says it’s believed the deaths are undocumented, though the Secwepemc Museum’s archivist is working with the Royal British Columbia Museum to see if any records of the deaths can be found.

“We sought out a way to confirm that knowing out of deepest respect and love for those lost children and their families, understanding that Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc is the final resting place of these children,” said Casimir in a news release.

“We as communities and leadership will find the best way of doing this and taking care of our people. We want to all be on the same page when it comes to having the ceremony to bring our people home,” added McLeod.

Chief McLeod mentioned that the First Nation communities are working together to find a path through the tragedy.

“It’s going to take a lot of strength to walk with our people while they remember the hurt and pain from that school. And it will be so much better when we’re all united, working together to ensure we’re there for our citizens,” said McLeod.

Work to identify the site was led by the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Language and Cultural Department alongside ceremonial Knowledge Keepers, who made sure the work was done in keeping with cultural protocols. Preliminary work began in the early 2000s.

“This is the beginning but, given the nature of this news, we felt it important to share immediately,” Casimir said. “At this time, we have more questions than answers.”

Kamloops Indian Residential School operated from 1890 to 1969, with a peak enrolment of 500 in the 1950s. The federal government took over administration of the school from 1969 to 1978, using the building as a residence for students attending other Kamloops schools.

Chief McLeod said that Upper Nicola is setting up support teams in the community for anybody who may need help.

by Michael Reeve / Q-101 Merritt