Community honors the memories and lives of 215 Indigenous children
A candlelight vigil for the 215 Indigenous children, who were found buried in a mass grave outside the former Kamploops boarding school in Canada, was held on Monday, June 21. The event was hosted by Sacred Fire: Integrity and Truth Project. The group met at the Lincoln Indian Center to gather and pray.
Community members were asked to donate 215 pairs of shoes for the Indigenous children who died at Kamploops. New shoes, for infants to adults, lined the stage at the center. The shoes will be donated to local partners serving mothers, children, and families (including Women are Sacred and St. Monica’s).
“We decided to host a vigil,” said Colette Yellow Robe, a board member for Indian Center Inc. and Stand In For Nebraska. “Originally, when we heard about the 215 children…we wanted to do a vigil to honor their memories and lives. We thought it best to provide a service for the community, so we’re asking for shoe donations.”
Said Yellow Robe: “I think one point to make is it’s important to walk in solidarity in Lincoln and our surrounding communities. We have a lot of different tribal nations and Indigenous nations and lands. It’s important to be mindful that there could be other communities that have had this happen. It’s important that we stand in solidarity and unity.”
(Georgiana Ausan)
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