Splatsin Monument Backgrounder – April 21, 2023

 

Dear friends,

 

Just over a year ago – 215 children’s bodies to suspected unmarked graves were discovered at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in Kamloops, BC. First Nation people and their supporters across Canada were immediately grief stricken to find out about this. It sparked searches at other residential schools in Canada and to date over 11,000 children’s bodies and suspected graves have been found.

 

At Splatsin (First Nation of Enderby, BC) – we felt the grief and wanted to do something. We know that many of our members attended various schools in BC. We have started a committee called the “Splatsin Monument Committee” in order to create a monument to commemorate our Splatsin survivors who attended residential schools, the ones who returned or who have since passed, and for those who never came home.

 

They found us they whispered….and we will never, ever forget that this happened until you are all remembered.

 

We are so happy for the support of our non-indigenous friends in this initiative. It means the world to us to know that we can build something together for a positive change that will to to help us all heal together in our own ways.

 

Our Society has been helping organize and fund-raise for this monument. We have been selling orange t-shirts over the past year and have had a few orange shirt events gathering donation of over $10,000.00 so far! Our accountant is maintaining financial statements that show who the donors are in a transparent method to to ensure transparency and accountability.

 

We are also taking donations for a Splatsin Survivors Gathering that we are hosting on Sept. 30th at Splatsin. So far we know of 144 peoples names and 44 who are still living. We would like to invite these people to come to a gathering where their ideas will design the Splatsin Monument.

 

We could use your help!!!

  • We need donations! E Transfers can be sent by email to: monumentsplatsin@gmail.com or donations can be made by square at the Splatsin Tsm7aksaltn Society at 2730 Canyon Rd., Enderby, or mailing a cheque.

    Also by Square (although e-transfer is preferable) at this url: https://square.link/u/kez8F2Rj

  • We are gathering names of Splatsin survivors. Please contact Rosalind Williams by email at: splatsinmonument@gmail.com  Please send a phone number and she will contact you.

 

For more information – contact: Donna Felix – Coordinator at: 250-550-6152 or email: splatsinmonumentgathering@gmail.com

Or Executive Director Deanna Cook at 778-212-6406 or email: executivedirector@tsm7aksaltn.ca

July, 2024 Update

The Monument Planning Group began meeting in May 2022 with the goal of creating a site to commemorate those Splatsin members who attended Residential Schools. The site will include a monument and surrounding

grounds. The Group is comprised of Splatsin Survivors, community volunteers and supporters.

Updates:

  • May 28, 2024 - the Planning Group received formal support from Chief and Council for the location of the monument at the site in front of the Pine Tree. Council upheld the decision of the previous Council to designate that site. In addition Council offered their ongoing support to serve as the flow through organization for current and future funding at a reduced admin fee. The Planning Group is grateful for this support and looks forward to a strong working relationship with Council as the project advances.

  • Secwepemc artist Tania Willard has been hired to design the monument and oversee its construction. Tania has direct ties to Splatsin through her grandmother Ethel Willard (nee Jones) Tania is a member of Neskonlith First Nation, a professor at UBC Kelowna and the recipient of several awards for her work. See www.taniawillard.ca for more information on her work.

  • Funding from Indigenous Services Canada has supported the project to date along with donations and fund raising. We are awaiting confirmation of continued funding for the completion of the project.

  • Gathering of Survivors tentatively planned for July 2024. The project has been guided by the Splatsin Survivors throughout. The first gathering was September 2022 followed by a meeting with Survivors and the Artist, Tania Willard in August 2023. Survivors will be contacted personally when a date for the next gathering has been confirmed.

  • We continue to pursue research about other possible Splatsin people who attended Residential Schools. We have identified 152 survivors that attended Residential School with 46 survivors today, ranging from 65-94 years old. We are continuing our research for this. For anyone who has information about family members who attended residential school - please contact Rosalind at 250-309-2164 or zoralind@gmail.com

Please direct any comments or inquiries to the Planning group in care of Donna Felix @ 250 550 6152 or splatsinmonumentgathering@gmail.com   

From the Monument Planning Group