The Cranbrook Public Library would like to express its sincere condolences to the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation and all those impacted by the discovery of the remains of 215 children at the former Kamloops Residential School.
We recognize, as well, that our grief is nothing compared to the intense feelings of sadness, frustration, and anger experienced by the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation and Indigenous Peoples across the country. The tragedy is that these emotions are not new; Indigenous Peoples have been living with them for generations.
The Ktunaxa Nation Council calls upon all Canadians to learn the history of the residential school system in this country, and what this system was designed to do. Healing can only begin when the absolute truth is known.
Below are a selection of resources the Library has that can help lead the discussion.
Every Child Matters for young children
Every Child Matters for older children and teens
Every Child Matters for adults
Ktunaxa people have occupied the lands adjacent to the Kootenay and Columbia Rivers and the Arrow Lakes of British Columbia, Canada for more than 10,000 years.
ʔaq̓am is a member community of the Ktunaxa Nation. As a community, they share many values – recognizing the importance of family, unity and co-operation, effective communication, love and kindness, respect, safety and security, inclusion, education and learning, healthy and balanced living.
Learn the Ktunaxa Language
Ktunaxa is a language isolate, meaning that it is one of a kind and unrelated to any other language in the world. Currently it is in danger of becoming extinct, with fewer and fewer fluent elders living within the community. The Ktunaxa people have now taken the initiative to combine the existing knowledge passed down from our elders and apply it to modern technology, to ensure that the language survives.
FIRST VOICES is a media-rich website including games to assist in learning the Ktunaxa language.
Click on this image to watch a short an fascinating documentary on the Ktunaxa language.