The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George (RDFFG) has lowered a Lheidli T’enneh flag to half-mast in support of the Nation’s request to honour the 215 children found buried at Kamloops Residential School.
The flag was also lowered in a special ceremony at city hall yesterday (June 1) where a memorial of shoes, teddy bears and flowers has been placed on the building’s front steps.
The Lheidli T’enneh flags will remain lowered for 215 days as each day symbolizes one child found in the mass grave.
“There are no words that adequately capture the horror and dismay of this tragedy. We are grateful to the Lheidli T’enneh for providing us an opportunity to join with them in grieving for the children and families forever impacted by residential schools,” says RDFFG Chair Art Kaehn.
“It is one step of many we know we must take to show our support for Indigenous communities working through this and demonstrate that we are committed partners in reconciliation.”
Lheidli T’enneh Chief Dolleen Logan and council presented Kaehn and members of the board with a Lheidli T’enneh flag, which was then raised to half-mast.
Chief Logan says the lowered flag serves as a reminder that further action is needed to determine if there are any other remains of children buried at other residential schools across the country. She says while that work carries on we all must ask ourselves what else can we do to support all children.
“I have cried so much thinking of these children that didn’t have a chance to be children,” said Chief Logan. “The youngest one was three years old that they’ve found – We have been talking nonstop. There’s been a lot of crying, a lot of hugging and we will continue on to talk.”
She says she appreciates the support from the community and is asking everyone to continue to honour the children.
“It’s children and everyone can identify with a child,” says Chief Logan. “I’ve been having emails, phone calls, and text on how to support, and right now I’m just asking everyone to think of the children – all of the children that didn’t make it home and honour them in your own way.”
Lheidli T’enneh will also be posting a photo from yesterday’s ceremony on its Facebook page every Monday to keep the conversation going and to keep the memory of the children alive.
