Dear members of the UBC Emergency Medicine Community,
It is with profound sadness that we have learned about the recent discovery of 215 children buried at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.
The impact of this tragic news is felt throughout our university community as well as our nation. We encourage everyone to reflect on the lives of these children and the grief and trauma that this news represents for their families and communities.
This discovery is heartbreaking. We must support the families and communities of the children left behind, while renewing our pledge to improve culturally safe healthcare to Indigenous peoples.
We mourn alongside the families, communities, residential school victims and survivors.
Please take a moment to read the University’s statement here. For more information and resources, please visit the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre.
Sincerely,
Roy Purssell MD, FRCPC, ABEM, FACMT
Professor and Co-Head, Department of Emergency Medicine
The University of British Columbia
roy.purssell@ubc.ca
John Tallon MD, MSc, FRCPC, CCPE
Clinical Professor and Co-Head, Department of Emergency Medicine
The University of British Columbia
john.tallon@ubc.ca