Today, people across British Columbia and Canada are coming together to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day.

This is a day to honour residential school survivors, remember the children who never made it home, and stand with the families and communities who continue to heal from this profound trauma.

We must reflect on and learn from the tragic legacy of residential schools. For more than a century, the government forcibly removed Indigenous children from their homes, separating them from their communities and cultures – often to face horrific abuse. These facts are indisputable. Survivors shared the truth, courts confirmed it, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission documented it.

Unfortunately, denialism and racism remain with us to this day. We saw that again on Sunday, when white nationalists in masks showed up on Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc lands. It was a cowardly act of hate meant to frighten people in their own homes. It shows exactly how much work we still have left to do.

We need to answer intimidation by coming together. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with survivors means reckoning with the truth of what these children and communities went through. We must look at the darkest chapters of our past with open eyes, rather than turning away.

That is how we heal and build a stronger B.C. moving forward. By acknowledging the painful parts of our past, we can build a better future rooted in respect. A province where we all work together, where we look out for one another, and where every single child knows they matter.
Support is available. If you or someone you know needs help, the 24-hour National Indian Residential School Crisis Line is available at 1-866-925-4419.

Crisis services for Indigenous Peoples in B.C. are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, toll-free throughout the province at 1-800-588-8717.

Alternatively, individuals can call direct into the adult-Elders line at 250 723-4050 or the children/youth line at 250 723-2040.

The Métis Crisis Line is available 24/7 toll-free across the province at 1-833-638-4722.