As the University prepares to recognize National Indigenous History Month, we mourn for the 215 Indigenous children at the Kamloops Indian Residential School. It is an exceptionally challenging time for the Indigenous communities at U of T and a vivid reminder of the not-so-distant history of harms and atrocities that we are only beginning to work toward acknowledging and reconciling.
The University of Toronto joins communities across Turtle Island and around the world in mourning the loss of these children, their stories, and their contributions to Indigenous communities in Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc territory and beyond. These systemic atrocities committed against generations of Indigenous peoples reinforce the urgency of taking further steps to address the inter-generational effects of colonialism that continue to impact Indigenous communities.
Read the full statement from the VP, Human Resources & Equity