Community honors the memories and lives of 215 Indigenous children

Trust Mark
Buffalo's Fire

Buffalo's Fire

July 1, 2021

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)

Buffalo's Fire

Location: Bismarck, North Dakota
See the staff page
Buffalo's Fire

Sharing Is Caring

This article is not included in our Story Share & Care selection.

The content may only be reproduced with permission from the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance. Please see our content sharing guidelines.

© Buffalo's Fire. All rights reserved.

We provide the independent reporting that non-Native, extractive outlets often overlook. We give our communities the context and the facts they need to make informed decisions.

Jodi Rave Spotted Bear

Jodi Rave Spotted Bear

Founder and Editor in Chief

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we exist to illuminate tribal government decision-making for everyone who cares about transparency about Native issues. Because the consequences of restricted press freedom affect our communities every day, our trauma-informed reporting is rooted in a deep, firsthand expertise. Every gift helps keep the fire burning. A monthly contribution makes the biggest impact.

Respect The Fire

At Buffalo's Fire, we value constructive dialogue that builds an informed Indian Country. To keep this space healthy, moderators will remove:

  • Personal attacks, harassment, or hate speech
  • Spam, misinformation, or unsolicited promotion
  • Off-topic rants and excessive shouting (All Caps)

Let’s keep the fire burning with respect.