It is with deep sadness that the Crescent Heights Community Association mourns the 215 children that were found on the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. Imagining the loss of each of these children is devastating and we cannot find words sad or strong enough to adequately express condolences to the Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc communities and to all the Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island who have lost loved ones as a result of Canada’s vicious Residential School regime and other ongoing forms of colonial violence.
Crescent Heights is a community comprised predominantly of settlers on Treaty 7 lands and we are committed to participating in the ongoing Truth and Reconciliation work. Although it is a small change compared with the reverberating loss of those 215 children, we are relieved that the name of Langevin School has been changed to Riverside School. Many children from Crescent Heights have or do attend that school and it is good that the school no longer bears the name of one of the creators of an “education” system that killed more than 3,200 indigenous children.
Please consider exploring some of the below opportunities to decolonize our minds and communities and to stand against systemic racism and violence.
- Donate to the Indian Residential School Society: https://www.irsss.ca/donate
- Donate to the Aboriginal Friendship Society of Calgary: https://www.afccalgary.org/
- Join us for a Land Acknowledgement Seminar with Red Thunderwoman (email sandra@crescentheightsyyc.ca) or listen to her podcast: https://www.nativecalgarian.com/
- Check out the resources and books at the Calgary Public Library or meet with an Elder https://calgarylibrary.ca/connect/indigenous-services/
- Take part in Aboriginal Awareness Week: https://www.aawc.ca/
- Learn how to engage and support children with reconciliation from the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society.
- Learn about the Calls to Action in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report: http://trc.ca/assets/pdf/Calls_to_Action_English2.pdf
- Sign the petition to rename Bishop Grandin School: https://www.change.org/p/calgary-catholic-school-district-trustrees-rename-bishop-grandin-high-school-in-calgary
- Ideas about how you can take personal acts of reconciliation: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/community/personal-acts-reconciliation-1.4687405
If you need support, contact the 24-hour National Indian Residential School Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419