Ceremony held at the We’koqma’q Residential School Monument
June 9, 2021
-by April MacDonald
“This is just the beginning of a long journey ahead of us,” said band councillor and father, Stephen Googoo.
After the disturbing and horrific discovery of 215 children from a Residential School in Kamloops, British Columbia, We’koqma’q First Nation held a powerful ceremony for the children and for the families affected by the confirmation of what Residential School survivors knew all along.
Community members from We’koqma’q surrounded Residential School survivors in the shape of a heart and said, “Never again.”
“This not only opens many eyes across this nation, but opens up old wounds for our Residential School survivors,” said band councillor and father, Stephen Michael Googoo.
“I ask, please be mindful around our survivors who have suffered enough,” he added.
He said that he had the opportunity to speak with a couple of their own at this ceremony and that he saw first-hand their pain and that their suffering also resonated into his spirit.
“I’m deeply hurt, words can’t describe how I feel. I believe Canada has some answering and inquiring to do. It’s time to check all sites and give our families the true closure they’ve been needing,” he explained.
