Two churches on band land have been reduced to rubble and ash.

The Sacred Hearts church on Penticton Indian Band (PIB) land burned to the ground at 1:30 a.m. Monday morning. Less than two hours later, the church on Osoyoos Indian Band land in Oliver burned to its foundation.

At 1:24 a.m., Penticton Fire Rescue went to a structure fire at Green Mountain Road and Lilac Lane.

There is nothing left of the church and the flames melted the siding of a nearby building.

PIB Chief Greg Gabriel is expected to make a statement.

The fire in Oliver was on NkB次元官网网址橫ip Road and Spud Allen Road on Osoyoos Indian Band land.

According to Oliver Fire DepartmentB次元官网网址檚 Rob Graham, they were called to the blaze around 3 a.m. When they arrived, the fire had been burning for sometime and had already burned down the structure down to the foundation.

The fire department stayed on scene until this morning with a water tender to cool everything down.

B次元官网网址淭here is sage brush in the area and some nearby homes that we wanted to protect,B次元官网网址� said Graham.

Today, June 21, is National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada.

A statement from B.C. Premier this morning recognizes the day is marked in grief.

B次元官网网址淎s we honour and celebrate Indigenous communities today, we must also recognize the systemic racism, discrimination and inter-generational trauma Indigenous peoples have experienced and continue to experience. These harms are a daily, lived reality for Indigenous peoples,B次元官网网址� said premier John Horgan.

The City of Penticton will not participate in any formal Canada Cay celebrations this year out of respect for Indigenous communities across Canada.

The decision comes after the discovery of 215 deceased children at a former Kamloops residential school has sparked an increased spotlight on residential schools and on CanadaB次元官网网址檚 overlooked, dark history with Indigenous people.

To report a typo, email: editor@pentictonwesternnews.com.

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