‘When we stand together…it can bring light’: Splatin event honours residential school survivors

Friday's event saw some of the community's 46 known living survivors lead hundreds of people on a walk through the streets of Enderby.

In the North Okanagan, a walk and event put on by Splatsin First Nation to mark the second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation focused on recognizing and honouring residential school survivors.

Friday’s event saw some of the community’s 46 known living survivors lead hundreds of people through the streets of Enderby.

“The importance of this day cannot be understated,” said Splatsin Kukpi7 Doug Thomas.

“The school seperated us from our customs and our language. It taught us only to be labourers and from there the missing resources, all our fish and clean water, had a huge affect on our people. Now is the chance for everybody across Canada to recongize this history. Even though it is hard to hear the stories, the dark stories, going forward when we stand together on this day it can bring light to our people.”

The walk was followed by a ceremony outside the Splatsin Community Centre with speeches and music. The names of more than 140 Splatsin children who were taken to residential schools were read out.

The living survivors who were present were invited to come to the front to be recognized.

“These are the people that we honour today,” organizing committee member Deanna Cook told the crowd.

“Today is a hard day for everybody, but we honour these guys that are still here. We are really sorry for what happened to you, but you are home now.”