Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc chief blasts Trudeau for ignoring NDTR invitations

The leader of Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc in B.C.’s Interior publicly blasted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during his visit Monday for ignoring invitations to join the community in Kamloops to mark the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation last month.

Trudeau sat with his hands crossed on the table in front of him as Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir passionately berated him for what she says was all the hurt he caused on Sept. 30.

Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir says @Tkemlups seems justice, healing and reclamation months after unmarked graves of missing children were found at the former #Kamloops Indian residential school.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is sitting next to her.#TruthAndReconciliation @CityNewsVAN pic.twitter.com/ryM97geWxA

— Marcella Bernardo (@MBernardoNews) October 18, 2021

“The shock, anger and sorrow and disbelief was palpable in our community and it rippled throughout the world,” Casimir said.

Trudeau’s visit comes weeks after he initially apologized to Casimir. On Sept. 30, he was found vacationing in Tofino, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, instead of connecting with Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc. Trudeau had spoken with some survivors by telephone on the day and attended an event on Parliament Hill the night before, but later said it was a “mistake” to travel.

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Casimir thanked the prime minister for finally showing up.

“It was a long awaited moment to receive a personal hand of recognition and sympathy,” she said.

The prime minister went on to repeatedly apologize for his poor judgment.

“I deeply regret not having been here to commemorate and to move forward with Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc. It is something that we need to commit ourselves to do better on every single day as a government and me as an individual,” he said.

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The Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc announced in May it had documented what are believed to be 215 unmarked graves at the site of a former residential school.

Trudeau made note his absence at Tk’emlúps diverted the day’s important conversation, and what should have been a day of reflection about the damage caused by residential schools, was made about him.

“Instead of talking about Truth and Reconciliation, people talked about me, and that’s on me. I take responsibility for that,” he said. “I have many regrets about September 30th and my decision to travel, but also to be able to grieve with the community, that since May has been hurting.”

Focus of most questions today has been on Trudeau going to #Tofino instead of #Kamloops on #Canada’s first #TruthAndReconciliation day. @JustinTrudeau acknowledges that day ended up being about him and it should not have been.

Hope to get a chance later to ask more questions.

— Marcella Bernardo (@MBernardoNews) October 18, 2021

“I am deeply grateful to listen to survivors, and we will walk this path together, and that is why I am here,” he said.

Trudeau has yet to confirm how soon attendance records, which could help identify many missing children, will be shared, but has committed to helping fund a healing centre in Kamloops.

– With files from The Canadian Press