On May 27, 2021, Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Kukpi7 (Chief) Rosanne Casimir confirmed the preliminary findings of the remains of 215 children at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School grounds. TWU President Mark Husbands issued the following response:
"We grieve the news of a mass burial site of 215 children on the grounds of the former Kamloops residential school. We are deeply saddened by this revelation and profoundly concerned about the injustice and callous disregard for human life.
Our prayers and tears are with Indigenous communities, residential school survivors, and our Indigenous staff, faculty, and students. We share their sense of heartbreaking loss.
As a global Christian University we pledge to walk with our Indigenous brothers and sisters in this season of profound sadness and lament.
With the Psalmist we find solace in the promise that God "heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" (Psalm 147:3).The flags at Trinity Western will be flown at half-mast for 215 hours to pay our respects to the children of the former Kamloops residential school, their families, and communities.
May we learn from our past errors, and commit to walking with all who pursue healing, justice, and reconciliation."
Additional Information:
Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc press release (May 27, 2021): Remains of Children of Kamloops Residential School Discovered
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Missing children and burial information
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is Canada’s premier Christian liberal arts university dedicated to equipping students to establish meaningful connections between career, life, and the needs of the world. It is a fully accredited research institution offering liberal arts and sciences, as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. It has four campuses and locations: Langley, Richmond-Lansdowne, Richmond-Minoru, and Ottawa. TWU emphasizes academic excellence, research, and student engagement in a vital faith community committed to forming leaders to have a transformational impact on culture. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn.
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