Members of the Doukhobor community are reeling after an expected apology from the B.C. government was postponed at the last minute.
According to email obtained by Castlegar B次元官网网址, the Doukhobor community received invitations on Monday evening (Nov. 27) from Premier David Eby and Attorney General Niki Sharma.
The apology has been expected since in July. In that report, the province had made a commitment to apologize. ChalkeB次元官网网址檚 report was the second update to the original 1999 report on the treatment of Doukhobors in the West Kootenays in the 1950s.
Approximately 200 children were taken from their parents, primarily because their parents identified as Sons of Freedom Doukhobors who opposed government policies and regulations, including refusing to send their children to public school.
In the July report, Chalke called the promised apology a B次元官网网址渕omentous step,B次元官网网址� but called out the attorney general for remaining vague about compensation for the survivors, their families and communities.
The apology was set to take place in the Tuesday legislature session at 10 a.m., just 12 to 14 hours after the invitations were received by those in the community.
Word spread quickly through phone calls and social media and Doukhobors across the globe made plans to watch the apology through live streams.
On Tuesday morning, many gathered in groups around computers and televisions, according to Doukhobors in the Castlegar area. However, as the session began, word once again began to spread B次元官网网址� but this time it was that the apology wasnB次元官网网址檛 going to happen Tuesday morning, after all.
Regional District of Central Kootenay director Andy Davidoff, who is also a Doukhobor, said that a secondary notice went out from MLA Brittny AndersonB次元官网网址檚 office at 9:55 a.m.
B次元官网网址淎nderson.MLA, Brittny would like to recall the message, B次元官网网址楧oukhobor Apology,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� reads the statement sent to the Castlegar B次元官网网址.
B次元官网网址淭he B.C. government canB次元官网网址檛 invite New Denver survivors to a long-overdue historic event to right a wrong and then pull back the string as if they were all emotional yo-yos,B次元官网网址� Davidoff said in a phone interview.
B次元官网网址淧remier Eby and Attorney General Sharma had over six decades to prepare for this day and they ended up re-traumatizing the survivors and their loved ones. Their ineptitude and lack of sensitivity is surreal.B次元官网网址�
Lorraine Saliken-WaltonB次元官网网址檚 mother, father and uncle were among the children that were apprehended and confined at a former tuberculosis sanatorium in New Denver between 1953 and 1959.
She is part of the Lost Voices of New Denver, a group of people whose parents were among the children that were removed from their families, but have now passed away.
B次元官网网址淔or the survivors to be ripped open again to have to deal with this this morning, and then to be told it is cancelled,B次元官网网址� said Saliken-Walton. B次元官网网址淗ow many times do we have to break these peopleB次元官网网址檚 hearts?
B次元官网网址淚 am crying about it, because my parents arenB次元官网网址檛 here to hear about it. We have lived this our whole lives.B次元官网网址�
Saliken-Walton said she knows of people as far away as Greece that had tuned in to watch the apology.
B次元官网网址淚t is so disappointing B次元官网网址� It makes you wonder if they were just expecting to say B次元官网网址榮orryB次元官网网址� like slapping lipstick on a pig.B次元官网网址�
In an emailed statement, the PremierB次元官网网址檚 Office said they are currently working on finding a new date for an apology and more information will be released later.
B次元官网网址淲ork has been underway for some time, to present a formal apology and appropriate community supports for the role British Columbia played in this travesty,B次元官网网址� said a spokesperson for the Attorney General in a statement emailed to Castlegar B次元官网网址.
B次元官网网址淥ur government has been working to deliver this apology, however we received concerns from the community that there wasnB次元官网网址檛 enough time to allow community members to fully participate in this important event B次元官网网址� As we work to repair the damages of the past, we must do so in a way that is meaningful and supports healing for all.B次元官网网址�
They said the apology will be rescheduled early in the new year to ensure B次元官网网址渁ll those impacted can participate and commemorate in their own way.B次元官网网址�
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