Times-Chronicle staff
Osoyoos Indian Band Chief Clarence Louie has expressed great sadness about the discovery of 215 children buried near the Kamloops Indian Residential School.
“Many OIB members were sent to Kamloops up until the early 1970’s. Nothing much upsets me more than hearing about residential schools.”
He stated the government and churches must now “own up” and be held accountable for the finding in Kamloops, which breaks his heart and makes him angry at the same time.
The burial site of the children was discovered recently by using ground-penetrating radar. The finding is what many First Nations dreaded but suspected.
Louie said the discovery doesn’t surprise him, noting the federal government and the “churches policy of genocide against First Nation people” was institutionalized for more than 100 years through the Indian Residential School system.
“Past reports showed that thousands of Native kids lost their lives at those schools while under government and church care and authority.”
Louie said Osoyoos and all of the Okanagan bands are in contact with the Chief and Council of the Kamloops Indian Band and will work with many First Nations on the next steps to address this “serious crime against Native children.”
