HEALING CEREMONY

Hundreds gather over the weekend for healing ceremony at site of former residential school

Jun 21, 2021 | 10:34 AM

LEJAC–Over the course of three days, several hundred people came out to the site of the former Lejac Residential School for a healing ceremony following the tragic unmarked gravesite discovery in Kamloops.

On Sunday, media was invited to the two hour closing ceremony. Carrier Sekani Family Services hosted the event, offering fire keepers and healing services onsite for anyone that needed it.

A burning ceremony was also offered to anyone that desired it.

Several Elders and leaders spoke at the event, in addition to BC Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee and Skeena-Bulkley Valley NDP MP Taylor Bachrach.

They spoke of the hard truths that this discovery has shown Canada. Some say this was a wakeup call for the atrocities that happened to Indigenous People. Chief Teegee says this was proof of a genocide.

MP Bachrach of the NDP says the party brought forth a motion on reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples to the House of Commons. That motion passed unanimously earlier this month but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did not cast a vote.

Bachrach says he hopes that Trudeau will reconsider and sign off on the motion.