Statement of the Bahá’í Community of London in the wake of the confirmation of the remains of
215 children who were students of the Kamloops Indian Residential School
June 15, 2021
On Friday, May 27, 2021, the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation announced to the world
that the remains of 215 children had been located at the site of the former Kamloops Indian
Residential School in Kamloops, British Columbia. The horror of this news has provoked an
outpouring of mourning and shock from Canadians and from the peoples of the world.
It is with a deep sense of grief that the Bahá’í community of London expresses its condolences
to the families and loved ones of these children who have lived with the dread of not knowing
how their child’s life came to an end nor the whereabouts of their resting place.
We express our sympathy to all the survivors of the Indian Residential School system, and their
families, whose painful memories of these institutions have been aggravated by this discovery.
We acknowledge the strength and courage of the survivors who – in sharing their testimonies
with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada – lifted the veil of ignorance of the
wrongs committed in this country over a 120-year period.
The Bahá’í community of London has been and will continue to honour the souls of these
children, their families and communities by offering special prayers over the coming weeks. We
commit to educating ourselves, and to working collaboratively to build a future that becomes,
day-by-day, increasingly just and illumined.
With loving greetings,
The Bahá’í Community of London