In recent days, Canada has been shaken by a gruesome discovery. On the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, located on the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation in British Colombia, the remains of 215 children were found.

It is a tragic certainty of what was long expected and a painful reminder of Canada's failure to respect Indigenous communities, their land, and their heritage.

We mourn the loss of children who never returned and offer our condolences to the families and their communities.

Usually in June, we celebrate National Indigenous History Month to honour the history, heritage and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples in Canada with the 21st of the month being the National Indigenous Peoples Day.

This year, we would like to emphasize the importance of education in building understanding, supporting the efforts necessary in reconciliation and the importance of access to quality education for all, including all vulnerable groups, to create equitable ways of participating in society while preserving heritage, language and traditions.