Nahanee attended the former St. Paul's Indian Residential School for 10 years and the Kamloops Indian Residential School for one year. He was one of 18 family members forced into the schools.Khelsilem said the investigation will happen in phases, beginning with formal interviews with survivors who attended the school and the gathering of records, including from government and the Catholic Church.
“I can forgive the nuns,” he said. “But the government, they are not forgiven until the day they do it right, they make it right, for all Indigenous people. Because the harm that was done through the residential schools is only a reflection of what was started on Indian reserves. … This was all done intentionally, the harm, the wickedness, the atrocity.”
Chief Jen Thomas of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation said she is hopeful the investigation will bring some closure for survivors, families and elders.
European settlers had their hands bloody...