Grande Prairie vigil honours 215 children found at Kamloops residential school

Many gathered outside Grande Prairie City Hall Monday evening to honour the 215 children whose remains were confirmed to have been buried at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, as well as the countless others who lost their lives while attending residential schools across Canada.

Last week’s finding came as news to some Canadians who did not know the impact of the residential schooling system in Canada.

For those with lived experience though, last week’s findings came as a stark reminder of a dark period for many Indigenous people in Canada.

“My uncles and aunts have went through residential schooling and two of them suffer from very great and emotional trauma regarding this situation,” said Bonita Auger, who was in attendance at the vigil on Monday.

“Digging up 215 children is just the beginning of uncovered, unsolved and just disgraced words of what Canada has let happen through my culture and bloodline. These children shouldn’t have gone that way.”

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Residents gathered to mourn and reflect on those who lost their lives while attending residential schools across Canada (Photo: Shane Clausing / EverythingGP staff)

Dionne L’Hirondelle was also in attendance at the vigil. She says the news of the findings in Kamloops hits close to home.

“My grandfather was a residential school survivor, my dad is still a surviving residential school survivor. This touches home for me because we are the next generation and living with this affects us throughout everyday life and our journeys. I just feel I want to stand in solidarity with everyone else in Grande Prairie.”

The vigil lasted for around 30 minutes and featured speakers who shared lived experiences with residential schools, a prayer, songs and a 215 second moment of reflection.

Before the vigil, attendees laid shoes to honour the victims of residential schools.

Photo Credit: Shaun Penner

The shoes then took part in a smudging ceremony.

That was followed by Elder Loretta Parenteau-English, who opened the vigil with a prayer for those impacted by the residential schooling system.

Photo: Shaun Penner / EverythingGP staff

Clinton Soto, a councillor for Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, then spoke about his family’s experience with residential schools and performed a song.

Monique Homie then ended the vigil with a song for the children.

The vigil was led by Len Morissette, the President of the Grande Prairie Friendship Centre, who said he was pleased to see the Grande Prairie community come out and show their support.

“I think what we saw here today was amazing. I think people’s minds are open after everything we’ve been through the last year-and-a-half. It’s a tragedy how this all unfolded and I’m glad we could have a memorial and the community came out to support that.”

“Today’s a day of mourning,” added Grande Prairie Mayor Jackie Clayton, who attended with the majority of City Council members following their meeting Monday.

“But more importantly, it’s a day that we mourn together. Everyone being here together mourning is very strong. Everyone interprets today as a different thing, but at the end of the day, all that matters is we are here together.”

While many see this and other vigils held around the country Monday as a step forward, many in attendance said there is still a long way to go when it comes to Truth and Reconciliation.

“I would like to see more steps towards change and working together to address that past, so we can build on a strong future for our country,” said Morissette.

“What I would like to see more is more awareness and opportunities for people to collaborate.”