Grief over the Children Sorrow

Mission Central is grieving with the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation over the discovery of 215 children buried, yet unreported, at the site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School.

As the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada note, “The news, announced last Thursday by the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation, is a devastating reminder of the history of violence and oppression in Canada against the Indigenous peoples of this land. We understand that what was revealed in Kamloops is not unique, and that many more children needlessly died because of their time in Canada’s residential school system.”

We particularly want to acknowledge that the history of mission has been tainted by colonialist ambition and Western and White supremacy. As advocates for mission and discipleship Mission Central repents of the harmful actions of those who called themselves “Christ’s missionaries” yet acted in a way that was contrary to the life and teaching of Jesus.

We want to express our sorrow at this discovery and commit to reconciliation with the Indigenous Peoples in Canada, and prayer for our healing.

If you would like a few practical steps that you can take towards reconciliation, consider the following:

• Become familiar with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
• Watch this helpful exploration of the assumptions of "white privilege" by Jarrod Mckenna