**** PREMIER’S Office Media Release
Province Mourns Children Found Buried at Residential School
—————————————————————-
Flags at the Nova Scotia Legislature and all provincial buildings will be lowered to half mast beginning Monday, May 31 to honour the lives and memories of the 215 children found buried on the grounds of the former Kamloops residential school in Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc territory.
“I, and all Nova Scotians, are deeply disturbed by the shocking news coming from Kamloops, British Columbia,” said Premier Iain Rankin. “It’s a horrific reminder of the damaging legacy of residential schools all across the country, including our province. My heart goes out to everyone thinking about and grieving the children lost, and to all the survivors of residential schools. We mourn with you.”
Flags will be lowered for nine days, or 215 hours from sunrise on Monday, May 31 to sunset on Tuesday, June 8 to honour the lives of each child lost and to recognize and learn from the societal harm done by the residential school system across the country, including Nova Scotia.
.
School Flags at Half-Mast to Remember Residential School Students, Recommit to Treaty Education
—————————————————————-
Nova Scotia’s schools are lowering their flags to half mast for nine days to honour the lives and memories of the 215 children whose remains were found buried at a residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia, and all of the others who lost their lives in Canada’s residential schools.
Derek Mombourquette, Nova Scotia’s Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, said the discovery of the remains of these children is a tragedy, but hopes this will be a catalyst for greater reconciliation, especially through Treaty Education.
“My heart broke when I heard the news about the children in Kamloops,” said Mr. Mombourquette. “As a father, I can’t imagine the pain of those families. As a Nova Scotian and a Canadian, I know that we need to do more to fight racism and honour our commitment to reconciliation with Nova Scotia’s Mi’kmaq and Canada’s indigenous peoples.”
Treaty education is underway in the province’s education system thanks to a Treaty Education Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Nova Scotia government and Mi’kmaq Chiefs in 2015. The province’s treaty education framework aims to build elements of treaty education into the curriculum of each grade to lead to a better understanding of the Mi’kmaq, treaties, relationships, and reconciliation. Treaty and Mi’kmaq education has been co-constructed with Mi’kmaq partners and is woven throughout the curriculum.
The department, in partnership with the Mi’kmaq Education Services Branch, will continue to work with government departments, Regional Centres for Education, Conseil scolaire acadien provincial (CSAP), teachers and principals to advance the work of treaty education and to realize the reconciliation commitments.
.
**** HRP Media Release
Along with Halifax Regional Municipality, we’re flying our flags at half mast as we honour the children whose remains were found in the heartbreaking discovery in Kamloops, BC. We keep in our hearts all those impacted by the horrors. #MMIP #215Children
**** Truro Police Release
The Truro Police Service, along with the Town of Truro are flying our flags at half mast as we honour the children whose remains were found in the heartbreaking discovery in Kamloops, BC. We keep in our hearts all those impacted by the horrors. #MMIP #215Children
**** Cape Breton Police Release
Together with the Cape Breton Regional Municipality and our colleagues across Nova Scotia and Canada, our flags are lowered to half-mast in honour and memory of the 215 children whose remains were found on the grounds of a former residential school in Kamloops, BC. We mourn the loss of these innocent lives and keep in our hearts all those impacted by this horrific tragedy. #everychildmatters ????
**** EHS Release
Today we join all in mourning the 215 children found buried on the grounds of a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C. May we honour the memories of these children who never returned home, their families, and all survivors of residential schools.
The Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line can be reached at 1-866-925-4419 and is available 24/7 for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of their residential school experience.
#everychildmatters #215children
**** HRFE Release
We are deeply saddened by the heartbreaking news that the remains of 215 children have been found at a former residential school in Kamloops, BC. These children were never returned home to their loved ones. All HRFE flags are at half-mast and will remain lowered for 215 hours in honour of those children and all residential school survivors. #215HoursFor215Children
**** RCMP Media Release
The RCMP has a long and difficult history with Indigenous People. Today, we remember and honour the Kamloops Indian Residential School children and survivors. We acknowledge the painful legacy that continues, and the RCMP’s role in it. #IndigenousHistoryMonth
