Statement from the CBA President on the discovery of undocumented and unmarked graves at the site of Kuper Island Industrial School in British Columbia

  • July 13, 2021

The Penelakut Tribe on British Columbia’s Penelakut Island announced the discovery of more than 160 “undocumented and umarked” graves at the site of the former Kuper Island Industrial School. The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation at the University of Manitoba had previous documented deaths at that school.

We know from the stories survivors told the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that there will be many more such discoveries. The Canadian Bar Association wants survivors, their families and communities to know we will continue to mourn the lives lost to cultural genocide and stand in solidarity with them.

We also continue to call on the government of Canada to dedicate all necessary resources, without delay, to implementing the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action 71-76 to find, identify and return every missing child.

Bradley D. Regehr
CBA President