Members and Chiefs from Williams Lake area First Nations gathered last week for a ceremony to honour Residential School victims.
Hosted by the Tsq’escenemc (Canim Lake Band), the procession gathered on Tuesday to commemorate the children who attended, but did not return from, the St Joseph’s Mission Residential School.
Some community members arrived on horseback, with the horses symbolizing the strength, healing, and resilience of the students tat arrived at the school over a century ago.
Handmade cradles and a long canoe were blessed by spiritual leaders to carry home the spirits of those lost.
A sacred fire was lit, which continued to burn in the community to help the spirits crossover for the next four days.
While the ceremony was underway, ground-penetrating radar was used to probe underneath the site of the former Residential School.
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