Okanagan Nation Alliance calls for criminal charges against Canada for deaths at residential schools

The tribal chair of the Syilx Okanagan nation is calling for criminal charges against Canada after 93 possible grave sites were found at a former residential school.

The tribal chair of the Syilx Okanagan nation is calling for criminal charges against Canada and the church after 93 possible grave sites were found at a former residential school near Williams Lake.

Okanagan Nation Alliance Tribal Chair, Clarence Louie, says as the number of unmarked grave sites continues to grow, there needs to be punishment for those responsible.

“Each child was a prisoner of war. This intentional cultural genocide was and is to kill the Indian in the child, to remove Indigenous people from each other, their spirit and the lands that the settlers covet.”

Louie adds the continued discovery of unmarked graves is traumatizing for the Indigenous community and need to be further investigated.

“The church and Canada need to be criminally investigated and charged for killing First Nation children at Federal Indian Residential schools … to date no person or institution have been charged in these egregious crimes.”

Penticton Indian Band Chief Greg Gabriel also echoed the sentiments of Louie.

“I truly believe a proper investigation needs to be carried out and those who were responsible or complicit need to be held accountable.”

The Alliance encourages all Nation members to “unite and continue supporting the survivors and each other through the emotional impacts of the recent findings.”