26.39°C Vancouver

Jun 29, 2021 1:15 AM -

B.C. provides $12 million to First Nations investigating former residential schools

Share On
b-c-provides-12-million-to-first-nations-investigating-former-residential-schools
A child’s dress is seen on a cross outside the Kamloops Indian Residential School in Kamloops, B.C., Saturday, June, 13, 2021.Some Catholics

The British Columbia government says it's providing $12 million to support First Nations with investigative work at former residential school sites.

It says the funding will also go towards programs to help community members experiencing trauma after the recent discoveries of what are believed to be the remains of 215 children at a former school in Kamloops, and 751 unmarked graves in Saskatchewan.

In a news release, the province says the funding will help First Nations identify, investigate, document, maintain, protect or commemorate residential school sites where children's remains may be located.

It says the province, the federal government and B.C.'s First Nations Health Authority are working with a number of nations that have requested assistance in determining the next steps for removing structures and searching other sites.

It says those nations include the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc, whose leadership announced the finding in Kamloops last month, and the Daylu Dena Council in Lower Post, where a former residential school is slated for demolition.

Indigenous Relations Minister Murray Rankin says in the statement that many sites across B.C. and Canada are the source of unanswered questions.

"Finding evidence of a burial site for children who attended the former Kamloops residential school was a stark reminder of the atrocities of the Canadian residential school system and how those continue to be felt to this day," he said in the news release on Monday.

Charlene Belleau, chair of the First Nations Health Council, says the money is an important first step in supporting the healing of Indigenous people in B.C.

Ottawa has pledged further support for the identification and investigation of burial grounds near former residential schools after allocating $27 million in 2019.

Latest news

BCAug 25, 2025

Proposed changes will make it easier for families to navigate legal system

The Province is intending to propose changes to the Family Law Act (FLA) to give more support to families and people experiencing family violence and to offer more parenting arrangements that put children’s needs first. The proposed changes come from a policy paper developed during Phase 2 of the multi-year review of the Family Law Act. The FLA is the main law that deals with family violence, guardianship, parenting duties, support payments and dividing property after a separation. The review looks at how the law can better reflect today’s society and recent court decisions. “This is the
WorldAug 25, 2025

Punjabi truck driver involved in crash and accused of being in US illegally, denied bail

A Florida judge on Saturday denied bail to truck driver Harjinder Singh in connection with a fatal crash in Fort Pierce. Harjinder was arrested on August 16 in connection with the August 12 crash. Investigators say Singh attempted to make an illegal U-turn with his semitruck, which caused a minivan to collide with a trailer, killing all three occupants. The Trump administration says Harjinder Singh, 28, was in the United States illegally and entered the United States illegally from Mexico in 2018. He is being held in the St. Lucie County Jail. Judge Lauren Sweet denied bail, saying that Har
human-remains-discovered-in-burned-vehicle-near-kamloops-b-c-rcmp
BCAug 25, 2025

Human remains discovered in burned vehicle near Kamloops, B.C.: RCMP

Police in Kamloops, B.C., say human remains were found in a burned out vehicle on a road north of the city on Saturday. Mounties say the Tk’emlups Rural RCMP responded to a reported vehicle fire on Tranquille-Criss Creek Road, where they found a burned black 2019 Volkswagen Golf that they believe was stolen. They say officers found human remains inside the car, and the region's major crime unit is now investigating the suspicious death. Staff Sgt. Jason Smart with the Southeast District Major Crime Unit says they're looking for the public's assistance to figure out what led to the fire and d
negotiations-set-to-resume-between-canada-post-union
CanadaAug 25, 2025

Negotiations set to resume between Canada Post, union

Negotiations between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers are set to resume. A Canada Post spokeswoman says in a statement that the Crown corporation is committed to the collective bargaining process with CUPW and to reaching an agreement. She says Canada Post is reviewing CUPW's offers and has requested further details to support the process, adding it is in regular contact with CUPW through federal mediators. Canada Post's comments come after negotiations that had been scheduled for Friday were delayed. CUPW said in a press release a day earlier that it was informed by Canada
multiple-journalists-killed-by-israeli-strikes-on-gaza-hospital
WorldAug 25, 2025

Multiple journalists killed by Israeli strikes on Gaza hospital

Four journalists were among at least eight people killed on Monday in a strike on a hospital in southern Gaza, including a freelancer who worked for the Associated Press. Mariam Dagga, 33 freelanced for the AP since the Gaza war began, as well as other news outlets. Daggareported on Nasser Hospital doctorsstruggling to save children with no prior health issues who were wasting away from starvation. Al Jazeera confirmed that its journalist Mohammed Salam was among those who were killed in the Nasser hospital strike. Reuters reported that its contractor cameraman Hussam al-Masri was also killed

Related News