Joint statement by President Chartrand and Minister Carrier on residential school victims in British Columbia

Press Release

May 31, 2021

Winnipeg, MB, in the Homeland of the Métis Nation – The Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF) is flying the Federation’s flag at half-mast at our Home Office at 150 Henry Ave., to honour the 215 children whose remains were discovered on the grounds of a residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia, and for all victims of the residential school system.

“Everyone feels the shock, as our children mean everything to us,” said David Chartrand, President of the MMF. “The loss of these children is devastating to their families, creating a wound that will never heal. We feel the pain and grieve for the families who lost their loved ones. If these children had been allowed to grow and flourish, many would be Elders today. So, we also grieve for their communities, who lost their precious stories, wisdom and cultural knowledge.”

“This discovery highlights the tragedy and truth of the residential school system,” said Andrew Carrier, Minister of Residential Schools for the MMF. “Residential schools were designed to take the spirit away from the Indigenous peoples of Canada, and you can clearly see that design with discoveries like this one in Kamloops. Residential school survivors remain among us even today, struggling to reconcile with what was done to them. That trauma gets handed down to the generations that follow, threatening the fabric of our communities and our nations.”

The discovery of these remains was made possible by the determination of the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation and Kukpi7 (Chief) Rosanne Casimir. The MMF continues to partner with Canada’s First Nations like the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, the Government of Canada, and the Catholic Church to bring these tragedies to light and take steps on the pathway toward healing.

The MMF encourages anyone struggling with this tragedy to call our mental wellness support line at 1-833-390-1041.

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Believe in Yourself; Believe in Métis.

The Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF) is the democratic self-governing political representative for the Métis Nation’s Manitoba Métis Community. The Manitoba Métis Community is Canada’s Partner in Confederation and the Founder of the Province of Manitoba.

For more information, media may contact:
Kat Patenaude
Media Relations Advisor
Manitoba Metis Federation
204-801-7710
Kat.Patenaude@mmf.mb.ca

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