Words alone cannot describe how disheartened we were to learn of last week’s discovery of the remains of 215 children in unmarked graves on the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.
As we acknowledge and mourn these 215 children, the College of Chiropractors of BC (the College) extends its condolences and stands in solidarity with the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nations and all Indigenous people in Canada who are affected by this tragedy.
The College supports culturally appropriate healthcare services through culturally safe and sensitive practice. Good practice involves genuine efforts to understand the cultural needs and contexts of different patients to obtain good health outcomes; including having knowledge of, respect for, and sensitivity towards the cultural needs of the community chiropractors serve to adapting practices to improve engagement with patients and their healthcare outcomes.
For our registrants this means learning about and understanding the impacts of residential schools on Canada’s First Nations communities; to acknowledge and reflect on the social issues faced by Indigenous peoples; and to understand the historical contexts from which these issues originate.
We must recognize that this news is likely to trigger significant pain and sadness among Indigenous communities, especially those with personal or family history of attending residential schools. It is important to acknowledge this pain and suffering and to do everything we can to support our Indigenous communities as they continue to process this news.
Learn more about how the College continues to support cultural safety and humility.
In consulting the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nations and the First Nation’s Health Authority’s websites, please find the following support resources:
- Learn more about how to support the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc community
- Indian Residential School Crisis Line – 1-866-925-4419
- Indian Residential School Survivors Society – 1-800-721-0066 or 604-985-4464
- Kuu-Us Crisis Line Society provides crisis services for Indigenous people across BC