VANCOUVER — The city of Vancouver says it has closed a temporary memorial at a residential school, but will continue to work with area First Nations to find a permanent space to honor victims and survivors.
VANCOUVER — The city of Vancouver says it has closed a temporary memorial at a residential school, but will continue to work with area First Nations to find a permanent space to honor victims and survivors.
A city statement says a private burning ceremony was held on Sunday before the memorial in Robson Square in the city center was respectfully closed.
The city says staff and volunteers have removed the remaining items and structures in Robson Square and it will return to public use, including weekend indigenous markets, this summer.
The memorial, on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery, included many pairs of children’s shoes, but a large number of them were unexpectedly removed last week before the burning ceremony could take place.
The statement says most of the missing items were located, cleaned and covered in time for the ceremony, which was led by members of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh nations.
The memorial was created on May 28, 2021, days after the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nation revealed that ground-penetrating radar had identified the possible remains of up to 215 children forced to attend the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. .
The Kamloops announcement led to similar discoveries at former residential schools in BC and other parts of Canada, prompting widespread demands for accountability and reconciliation from political and religious leaders.
Vancouver “recognizes the atrocities and ongoing impacts of residential schools and recognizes that there is a need for spaces of recognition, honor and healing for all those affected by residential schools,” the city said in its statement.
Authorities previously said that the artist who created the temporary monument, as well as the volunteers who guard it, support the beliefs of Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh that “as long as the monument stands, the spirits of children will remain bound to the elements.” placed”. on the steps and I can’t go on.
The City is committed to continuing to work with First Nations to find an appropriate permanent space to reflect on and honor the victims and survivors of residential schools.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on May 26, 2023.
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