With no substantive actions to date B次元官网网址渢o show a sincere commitment for reconciliation,B次元官网网址� Penticton Indian Band (PIB) Chief and council will not be recognizing National Truth and Reconciliation Day.

In a statement provided to the media, Chief Greg Gabriel said it is far too premature to celebrate this day.

B次元官网网址淎fter the discovery of the first 215 childrenB次元官网网址檚 graves at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School site, the Penticton Indian Band Chief and council are unanimous in their decision that they will not recognize the Sept. 30th Truth and Reconciliation Day,B次元官网网址� the statement reads.

Council agreed with and stood behind Chief GabrielB次元官网网址檚 statement that there has been no real substantive actions to date to show a genuine or sincere commitment for reconciliation.

B次元官网网址淔or years, we have heard the same statements and promises being made and yet everything remains status quo. We as a people have struggled and continue to suffer from the effects of colonialism forced onto us by the Catholic Church and the Government of Canada. We hope that all citizens look at ways to educate themselves on the true history of what we as a people continue to struggle with.B次元官网网址�

However, the PIB council and chief said they donB次元官网网址檛 want to discourage any of B次元官网网址渙ur relatives, friends or communities from having events that recognize and honour those lives lost as a result of the residential school atrocity and those who wish to honour all survivors that have thrived and remain with us.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲e encourage all to keep the message strong and loud, that B次元官网网址榃e are Still HereB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址榃e Will Never Forget.B次元官网网址� Our message and reminder has to always remain strong. We encourage everyone to wear your orange shirts on Sept. 30.B次元官网网址�

The PIB joins the Lower Similkameen Indian Band Chief Keith Crow in questioning what this day is supposed to represent.

B次元官网网址淗ow do you celebrate a Truth and Reconciliation Day? How do you celebrate the death of all these children that died in residential schools, how do you celebrate that?B次元官网网址� said Crow.

At the burned down Sacred Hearts Catholic Church site on PIB land in June, Chief Gabriel said many people in his community are hurting and angry at the horrific discovery of 215 graves of those B次元官网网址渋nnocent, poor children.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 anger across Canada. Myself, IB次元官网网址檓 very angry. I will do whatever I can in our leadership to make sure people are held accountable for those atrocities. It has to be a criminal investigation because that evil act is criminal. There needs to be a full criminal investigation, and people need to be held criminally responsible,B次元官网网址� Gabriel said at the time.

The Penticton Indian Band joined the Syilx Okanagan NationB次元官网网址檚 For the Children Caravan to the Kamloops Residential School on June 26.