Beyond the apologies.
Katimavik Official Statement in remembrance of the victims of the former Kamloops residential school, and of the memories of the precious lives lost.
Over the latest days, we are in pain, and we share this pain with everyone across our country. This unthinkable, horrifying, and heartbreaking discovery sent shockwaves across Canada and the past now asks something of the present. That is that we acknowledge and own the painful truths of our Canadian history. And in so doing, we commit to speak those truths in order to reconcile with Indigenous peoples.
To heal and reconcile, we must of course first seek truth and pay our respect to it. As Canadians, we must all acknowledge the hurt, trauma and the historic and ongoing oppression of Indigenous peoples, many of whom were taken away from each other, taken away from their land, murdered and those who still remain missing. Therefore, we must act to pursue justice and dignity for residential schools’ survivors, and for Indigenous communities. We must never again deny or distort the truth.
It is painful to remember. It is painful to forgive. It is painful to seek and to find answers.
As one of Canada’s leading youth organizations, Katimavik has a moral imperative to do our part, not only to face these realities, but more importantly to work to ensure that never again do we as a Country stand by and be complicit in these types of atrocities. In the memory of all those Indigenous children who were lost, and in honor of all those who survived, we must continue to work together, towards Truth and towards Reconciliation. Today, Katimavik re-affirms its pledge to do so and asks all Canadians of all ages to join us in this commitment.
John-Frederick Cameron
CEO, Katimavik