Statement on the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation discovery at Kamloops Residential School

by Hope in the Darkness

Issued June 1, 2021

With the recent announcement of the 215 lost children, at Hope in the Darkness, we send our thoughts, our prayers and our support to all of those experiencing these difficult times. It is a time of awakening, and one that is just beginning. We have observed over the last couple of days the testimonials, the efforts made to create and hold sacred space for the 215 children and the impacts this painful news has had on the survivors and the generations of descendants through stories we have been able to hear. The effect of this news is circling our nation, the country and is travelling around the world. Rightfully so. 

In 2018 and again in 2020, the Hope in the Darkness Walk for Youth Mental Health journeyed from coast to coast across Canada. Several issues dominated the walk that impact youth mental health that were shared with our team of walkers including systemic racism, MMIWG, and the child welfare economy. Another issue that arose was the impact of the residential school systems on families and communities. This journey was documented each day in 2018 and 2020 through several social media platforms that ran for a total of 215 days. 215 days.
We share our prayers with those who are suffering and those who are shocked, stunned and in mourning. For years now, survivors and those close enough to hear the stories always knew of the missing children who never returned home to their homelands. We are at a point where we must continue to find our lost children, at each school across every province in Canada.

Hope in the Darkness has been and will be participating in ceremonial activities in the coming days and we will continue to issue our challenge that every young person should be cared and accounted for. Every young person in Canada should be safe. Every young person has the right and privilege to experience their home communities, their home territories and their families. We will continue to advocate for that right. 

Our thoughts and prayers are always with the survivors. We will work with you to find answers so our children will never be stolen in any system designed to destroy us again.

+Walk 2.15km for the 215 children between now and June 8, 2021

+Wear orange
+Use hashtags
#everychildmatters #215children #howmanykids #youthmentalhealthmatters

The National Residential School Crisis Line is available at:  1-866-925-4419

For more information contact Hope in the Darkness at walkforyouthmentalhealth@gmail.com or call 807.464.2226

Registration now open!

by Hope in the Darkness

REGISTER HERE:

https://forms.gle/q33iRU6LzpMjqFTN9

  1. Shortly after you register, you will receive a confirmation email. If you don’t receive the confirmation email, please contact: walkforyouthmentalhealth@gmail.com to confirm your email address.
  2. To participate in the conference, you will be sent a zoom link. You will have to use the zoom link to enter the conference, you will need the internet for this.
  3. You are welcome to attend each session of the conference. Each session will include attendance for a chance to be entered into a draw for a door prize.
  4. There will be 10 chances to journal. Each journal entry will get you a chance to be entered into a draw for a journalling prize. More details will be shared.
  5. The conference will include an interactive poller called menti.com- we will be asking you to use this app also.