Vigil being held tonight in Cold Lake to remember murdered residential school children and survivors

A vigil is being held tonight in Cold Lake to honor murdered residential school children and survivors.

Last week, Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation announced they had found the remains of 215 children, some as young as three years old, buried at the site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School, one of Canada’s largest former school.

Gabrielle Whiskeyjack is from Cold Lake and is attending the vigil tonight which starts at 6:00 p.m.

“It’s at Cold Lake North at the teepee that is right across from the Roman Catholic church,” Whiskeyjack told Lakeland Connect. “We will be having a visual art installation and a vigil.”

Whiskeyjack is going to put up some orange print and ribbons around trees and lamppost to raise awareness.

“Print is cloth in our tradition, it is a sacred offering,” Whiskeyjack said. “I have some shoes I’m going to go put along the Highway also, people will be making signs and placing them along the road.”

Whiskeyjack plans on gathering 215 pairs of shoes and lights for the vigil.

Lakeland Connect will attend the vigil this evening and bring you more coverage.

The vigil takes place on Lakeshore Dr. across from St. Doms. Please respect social distancing and wear a mask.

Arthur@lakelandconnect.thedev.ca