UBCIC Condemns Planned Event over Fears of Promotion of Racist Misinformation about Residential Schools

December 1, 2025

(xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil Waututh)/ Vancouver, B.C. – December 1, 2025) Frances Widdowson, Jim McMurtry and Dallas Brodie plan to hold an unsanctioned event on the University of Victoria campus on December 2^nd about unmarked graves at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. UBCIC is deeply concerned that this event, under the guise of freedom of speech, will promote Residential School denialism and cause further harm to survivors.

Widdowson, one of the authors of Grave Error, McMurtry, a former high school teacher, and Brodie, an MLA for Vancouver-Quilchena and leader of OneBC, have each spoken publicly challenging reports of unmarked graves at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. UBCIC takes issue with advancing racist misinformation, attempting to erode confidence in public institutions and distorting facts about Residential Schools. Calls to exhume physical remains of children are a red herring and blatantly disregard the abundance of well-documented archaeological, archival and testimonial evidence which demonstrate that First Nations children died under abusive conditions at Residential Schools across Canada. This is not a matter of semantics or political debate.

UBCIC stands with survivors and First Nations in upholding their right to determine how they wish to manage former Residential School sites and care for their loved ones who were victims of the Residential School system.

Credible resources to learn more about Residential Schools:

• The Truth and Reconciliation Commission Reports and 94 Calls to Action
• UBC Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre
• Office of the Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites associated with Indian Residential Schools Final Report
• Oscar-Nominated documentary Sugarcane

Mental health and cultural support resources can be found below:

First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line and On-line
Counselling Service offers mental health counselling and crisis intervention to Indigenous people across Canada.
Toll-Free: 1-855-242-3310

Home

Indian Residential School Survivors Society
Toll-free: 1-800-721-0066

KUU-US Crisis Line
Toll-Free: 1-800-588-8717
(First Nations and Indigenous specific)
310– Mental Health: 310-6789 (no area code)
Suicide Crisis Line: 1-800-784-2433

Media inquiries:

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President, 250-490-5314
Chief Marilyn Slett, Secretary-Treasurer, 250-957-7721

UBCIC is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

For more information, please visit www.ubcic.bc.ca

NT4