A first of it’s kind in BC memorandum of understanding to guide future investigative work at the former St Joseph’s Mission Residential School site in Sugarcane was signed by Williams Lake First Nation, the Province and RCMP.
WLFN Chief Willie Sellars said this ensures that WLFN will continue to lead the process and provides the clarity they need in relation to future investigative activities.
“It’s about relationship building and getting to a place where we can work collaboratively together. It’s more along the lines of working together to eventually to get to a place, or be prepared to get to a place to excavate if that’s where the community decides that we want to go.”
Sellars said the investigation at St Joseph’s Mission is incredibly important to Williams Lake First Nation and to all communities that were affected by the former residential school.
“We just want to be prepared, we’re not in a place right now to look at excavation but it is definitely on the forefront of our conversations.” Sellars said, “Where we want to be when it comes to the St Joseph’s Mission Residential School site we need it to be a place of healing, a place of ceremony, a place of gathering in a good way and we’re not going to get there without the collaboration with all those different entities and that we understand the importance of working together.”
Signatories of the memorandum of understanding also included BC Coroners Service, Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General.
Since 2021 WLFN has taken on a leading role in the investigation work at the former St Joseph’s Mission Residential School site.
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