Splatsin Monument Backgrounder – April 21, 2023

 

Dear friends,

 

Just over a year ago – 215 children’s bodies to suspected unmarked graves were discovered at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in Kamloops, BC. First Nation people and their supporters across Canada were immediately grief stricken to find out about this. It sparked searches at other residential schools in Canada and to date over 11,000 children’s bodies and suspected graves have been found.

 

At Splatsin (First Nation of Enderby, BC) – we felt the grief and wanted to do something. We know that many of our members attended various schools in BC. We have started a committee called the “Splatsin Monument Committee” in order to create a monument to commemorate our Splatsin survivors who attended residential schools, the ones who returned or who have since passed, and for those who never came home.

 

They found us they whispered….and we will never, ever forget that this happened until you are all remembered.

 

We are so happy for the support of our non-indigenous friends in this initiative. It means the world to us to know that we can build something together for a positive change that will to to help us all heal together in our own ways.

 

Our Society has been helping organize and fund-raise for this monument. We have been selling orange t-shirts over the past year and have had a few orange shirt events gathering donation of over $10,000.00 so far! Our accountant is maintaining financial statements that show who the donors are in a transparent method to to ensure transparency and accountability.

 

We are also taking donations for a Splatsin Survivors Gathering that we are hosting on Sept. 30th at Splatsin. So far we know of 144 peoples names and 44 who are still living. We would like to invite these people to come to a gathering where their ideas will design the Splatsin Monument.

 

We could use your help!!!

  • We need donations! E Transfers can be sent by email to: monumentsplatsin@gmail.com or donations can be made by square at the Splatsin Tsm7aksaltn Society at 2730 Canyon Rd., Enderby, or mailing a cheque.

    Also by Square (although e-transfer is preferable) at this url: https://square.link/u/kez8F2Rj

  • We are gathering names of Splatsin survivors. Please contact Rosalind Williams by email at: splatsinmonument@gmail.com  Please send a phone number and she will contact you.

 

For more information – contact: Donna Felix – Coordinator at: 250-550-6152 or email: splatsinmonumentgathering@gmail.com

Or Executive Director Deanna Cook at 778-212-6406 or email: executivedirector@tsm7aksaltn.ca