Keeping with the past three years, Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality will not hold an event to commemorate National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30, however Mayor Rob O’Toole will attend an event in Wilson Park held by the Adams Lake Indian Band, which may provide opportunity for future organizing.
Since the day began in 2021 to honour children taken from Indigenous families and forced to attend “schools” funded by the government of Canada, the municipality has published statements and provided support and education for employees, but has not organized public events for the community.
Outwardly, this year signals no change from the municipality which will both keep education, reflection and awareness largely internal, providing staff with resources such as the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, as well as information about local events in Chase, Kamloops and other communities.
In terms of organizing a public event honouring the day the municipality would offer support, but O’Toole feels “it’s important that it is led by the Indigenous community.”
“We’re not going to set that mandate out,” he added. “We are more than willing and happy to provide the opportunity for that to happen, but we would step back and say that our role here would be to support.”
Thankful for the invitation to the Truth and Reconciliation Day event in Chase by Kukpi7 (Chief) Lynn Kenoras-Duck Chief, O’Toole said he is looking forward to what he calls a “big change and big step for us.”
“If coming out of that is an opportunity and they come to us and say, ‘we want to have something in Sun Peaks next year or year after’ then by all means we will work with them to make that happen,” he added.
The resort also continues with internal resources, encouraging staff to “educate themselves and reflect on our country’s tragic legacy of Indigenous residential schools, remembering and honouring the children who didn’t return home and thinking about the lasting impacts on Indigenous Peoples and communities,” director of communications Christina Antoniak said.
In alignment with the municipality, the resort will also fly its flags at half-mast on Sept. 30.
“This day is about reflection and in that reflection the resort continues to consider ways of engaging with local First Nations communities, in conjunction with the municipality and ways of bringing Secwépemc culture into the community,” Antoniak said.
Both the municipality and SPR note ongoing collaborations with Secwépemc communities. Recent partnerships have included Indigenous art installations at the Sun Peaks Centre, involvement in the Reimagine Sun Peaks initiative and donations such as playground equipment to the Neskonlith Band.
“We’re very thankful for the relationship we have and we continue to work on it to grow,” O’Toole said.
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