STJOSEPHSMISSION(CARIBOO)RESIDENTIALSCHOOL PLANNINGCOMMITTEE COMMUNIQUE December21,2012 OnbehalfoftheplanningcommitteeChiefFredRobbins,EsketemcFirstNationannounced todaythataseriesofeventswillbeheldinthespringof2013tocommemoratetheSt JosephsMission(Cariboo)ResidentialSchoolandprovideafoundationfortheongoing sharedworkofhealingandreconciliationintheCaribooRegion. TheStJosephsMission(Cariboo)ResidentialSchooloperatedfornearlyacenturyonthe WilliamsLakeFirstNationlandswithstudentsdrawnprimarilyfromthe15FirstNations intheCaribooRegion.TheofficialdatesfortheschoolareJuly19,1891toJune30,1981. Thecommemorationeventswillinclude: o Friday,April26,2013thekickoffeventwillbeafocusontheIndianResidential SchoolexperienceaspartoftheCaribooChilcotinSchoolDistrict27Professional DevelopmentDay.

Day. o ThursdayandFriday,May1617,2013formalcommemorationandreconciliation conferenceeventstobeconvenedatThompsonRiversUniversityandincludingthe dedicationof2monuments:1atthesiteoftheformerStJosephsMission(Cariboo) IndianResidentialSchool;and1inWilliamsLake. o SaturdayandSunday,May1819,2013reunionforformerstudentsWilliams LakePowWowArbour. Theeventsarebeingplannedthroughaninclusiveplanningcommitteecomprisedof: formerstudents;FirstNationsChiefs,CouncilorsandTribalCouncils;Municipaland Regionalgovernmentleadersandstaff;educatorsfromSchoolDistrict27andSxoxomic FirstNationschool;theRCMPandotherlocalgroups. InitialfundsforthiscommemorativeeventhavebeenprovidedbytheTruthand ReconciliationCommission.Additionalfundingisbeingpursuedtosupportafullrangeof activitiesoverthetimeframesmentionedabove. Whilefurtherdetailswillbeannouncedastheyarefinalizedthroughtheplanning committee,atthispointweseetheseeventsasbeinguniquelydesignedtomeettheneeds ofFirstNationsandnonFirstNationsalikeintheCaribooRegion.Thisincludesthe: Inclusionoftheneighboringmunicipalitiesandregionalgovernmentinplanningof theevents,andparticipatinginthereconciliationprocess.

Involvementofthepublicschooldistrictandlocaluniversitythroughtheir participationinplanning,afocusonresidentialschoolsattheApril26th ProfessionalDevelopmentdayasthekickoffeventforaseriesofactivities,andthe useoftheuniversitysfacilitiesfortheconferenceevents. Unveilingof2monumentsoneattheformerschoolsitededicatedtothememory ofthosewhodidntmakeitandthehealingjourneyofallthoseaffectedbythe school;anda2ndsimilarsistermonumentinWilliamsLakededicatedtothe sharedjourneyofreconciliation. Coordinationwithandsupporttothereunionactivitiesoftheformerstudentsofthe schoolatthetribalpowwowgroundsimmediatelyfollowingtheconferenceevents. Identificationofcontinuation/legacyactivitiestoensurethattheseeventsarepart ofanongoinghealingandreconciliationdialoguewiththeCaribooregion.Examples ofideasbeingconsideredincludehavingFirstNationsandMunicipalgovernments proclaimingagivendayasanannualresidentialschoolrecognitionand reconciliationday;conveninganannualleadershipforumonthatdayeachyearto discussthestateofreconciliationintheentireregion;andplanningforthe125 anniversaryoftheopeningoftheschoolin2016. Releaseofabookononestudentsexperiencesatthisveryschoolwillbereleased duringthecommemorativeeventsonMay17th.ThebookentitledNumberOne: SecretsofSurvivalatanIndianResidentialSchoolwasdoneindependentlybyChief BevSellars,Xatsull(SodaCreek)FirstNationthroughTalonBooks.

Furtherdetailspleasecontact: ChiefFredRobbins,EsketemcFirstNation AlRichmond/JoanSorley,CaribooRegionalDistrict KerryCook,CityofWilliamsLake MarkThiesson,CaribooChilcotinSchoolDistrict IrvineJohnson,StJosephsMissionReunionFacebookGroup

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