SECWEPEMCÚLECW (KAMLOOPS), B.C., Oct. 31, 2025 — In a solemn ceremony last week, Tkemlúps te Secwépemc, Survivors of the Kamloops Indian Residential School, and Parks Canada unveiled two plaques formally recognizing the former institution as a National Historic Site of Canada. The commemoration marks a significant step in fulfilling Call to Action 79 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and affirms the federal government's commitment to honouring Survivors, families, and communities affected by the residential school system.
As part of Canada’s ongoing responsibility to support Indigenous peoples, the government also reminded the public that the National Residential School Crisis Line (1-866-925-4419) and the Hope for Wellness Helpline (1-855-242-3310) remain available for those experiencing trauma or distress.
Historic Recognition of a Site of Pain, Memory, and Resilience
The former Kamloops Indian Residential School, once the largest federally mandated residential school in the country, operated between 1890 and 1969. During this time, children aged four to eighteen were forcibly taken from over 108 communities representing at least 38 Indigenous nations, including the Secwépemc, Stó:lo, St’át’imc, Nlekepmxc, and Syilx peoples.
Run by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and the Sisters of St. Ann, the school was part of a federally supported system that the TRC determined amounted to cultural genocide. Many leaders, including Pope Francis and the House of Commons, have described it simply as genocide.
Children at Kamloops endured physical, emotional, spiritual, and sexual abuse, overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, forced labour, malnutrition, and inadequate healthcare. High rates of infectious disease and death were common, and many children never returned home. Survivors continue to live with the profound personal and intergenerational impacts of these violations.
Today, the Kamloops site remains one of the few former residential school locations in Canada where a substantial number of original structures still stand. Tk?emlúps te Secwépemc leadership has chosen to preserve key buildings as places of truth-telling, learning, and cultural reclamation.
Plaques Honouring Indigenous Languages and Truth
At the ceremony, two plaques were?unveiled. One features text in Secwepemctsín—the language of the local First Nation—and in Chinook; the other is written in English and French. The use of Indigenous languages honours the histories that residential schools attempted to erase and reflects the federal government’s commitment to presenting history through Indigenous voices.
Grant Wade, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and MP for Vancouver Quadra, made the announcement on behalf of Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Culture and Identity and Minister responsible for Official Languages.
Voices from the Community
Tkemlúps te Secwépemc Kúkpi7 Rosanne Casimir said the designation recognizes generations of Survivors whose truths were long ignored:
“This designation affirms what we have always known: that this land, these stories, and the spirits of the children belong to the Secwépemc… Ensuring that the truth can never again be denied, silenced, or erased.”
Minister Guilbeault called the commemoration a necessary act of national remembrance:
“This designation stands as a solemn recognition of the painful legacy of residential schools in Canada and a tribute to the enduring spirit of the children, families, and communities who continue to live with their lasting impacts today.”
A Step in Reconciliation and Public Understanding
This designation follows a collaborative process between Parks Canada and Tkemlúps te Secwépemc, including co-developing the plaque text and documenting the site’s national historic significance. The recognition forms part of the federal government’s broader effort to ensure Indigenous histories are accurately told and that the legacy of residential schools remains visible to all Canadians.
Through the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, which advises the Minister on national historic designations, more than 2,280 people, places, and events have been recognized to date—most initiated through public nominations.
Quick Facts
The commemoration responds directly to TRC Call to Action 79.
The plaque text was co-developed with Tkemlúps te Secwépemc in Secwepemctsín, Chinook, English, and French.
The Kamloops site is one of the most intact former residential school locations in Canada.
The national designation highlights the need for continued education, healing, and remembrance.
Public nominations continue to drive the designation process. More information is available through the Parks Canada website.