Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said once again he is committed to working with Tk’emlups te Secwepemc and other Canadian First Nations on reconciliation, promising "concrete actions."
Trudeau is in Kamloops on Monday, meeting with leaders from Tk’emlups te Secwepemc and other First Nations dignitaries.
“We will continue to work together on important issues, whether it’s the healing centre this community has been working on for a long time, or an elders’ lodge, or designation of historic sites, or working together to make sure we’re finding answers,” Trudeau said Monday morning, also mentioning the possibility of “investing in a museum.”
“These are all concrete actions.”
Trudeau’s visit comes two weeks after Canada’s first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which took place on Sept. 30 — made a holiday in June, days after the May 27 announcement from Tk’emlups Chief Rosanne Casimir that unmarked grave sites had been located on the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.
Tk’emlups leaders invited Trudeau to take part in the band’s ceremonies on Sept. 30, but he opted to instead go on a family vacation on Vancouver Island — a decision for which he apologized again on Monday.
“As I said, I deeply regret not having been here to commemorate and move forward with Tk’emlups te Secwepemc,” he said.
“It is something that we need to commit ourselves to do better on every single day as a government, and me as an individual.”
Trudeau thanked Casimir for having him.
“After Sept. 30, she could have chosen to turn her back on me and the government,” he said.
“Yet, she reached out and said, ‘Please come and listen and learn, and we will walk this path together.’ That is why I am here.”
Castanet Kamloops has a reporter at the arbour, where events involving Trudeau and Casimir will continue into the afternoon.
