When the federal government tried to seal the documents about the Kamloops Indian Band’s funding arrangements for excavations concerning “The 215”, the Information Commissioner, Caroline Maynard, demanded that they be released 36 days from January 14, 2026.
On February 17, 2026, three days before the scheduled release of the documents about the “progress” of the excavations, the Kamloops Indian Band posted the following Press Release.
In this release, the Kamloops Indian Band states that “No Interviews will be granted at this time. The main media propagandists, Tim Petruk (Castanet) and James Peters (CFJC), covered the press release.
The “Armchair Mayor”, Mel Rothenburger, has also weighed in. https://armchairmayor.ca/2026/02/17/the-215-search-for-burial-sites-rules-out-some-areas-but-not-others/
An image from Rothenburger shows a display of shoes. This must have been taken after Sarah Beaulieu’s July 15 presentation because the display uses the words Le Estcwey [sic], wording that was announced in May 2022 by Ted Gottfriedson, Jr. (He claimed that it was insensitive to refer to “The 215” because aboriginal people had been assigned a number in residential schools).
This coverage is completely unacceptable. There needs to be honesty, transparency and accountability.
HONESTY: The Kamloops Indian Band announced that the “remains of 215 chldren” had been “confirmed” on May 27, 2021. It was the entity that misled the public (probably intentionally). The Band continued to make comments about a “mass grave” in July and September 2021. On May 2022, in a “memorial” for “The 215” [now called Le Escwiwey], several band members referred to children buried on the grounds. In September 2024, Ted Gottfriedson, Jr., in a conversation with TRU Chancellor DeDe DeRose, said that “children” had been found at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.
TRANSPARENCY: the Kamloops Indian Band must hold interviews and answer questions about this matter. It is unacceptable that almost 25 million dollars in public funds have been distributed on the basis of its false claim in May 2021. It also must release its GPR and LIDAR scans to the public. It promised to release of a GPR “Report” in May 2021, and received $40,000 of public funds to do the GPR work. Also, when were the dogs used? What were the findings?
ACCOUNTABILITY: Where is the opposition in the federal parliament? Questions need to be asked in the House of Commons about the misuse of government funds.
How is this even an issue. It has been (and continues to be) alleged that 215 children were clandestinely buried at this site. Since when do “Cultural protocols take precedent over what is clearly a henious (if true) criminal investigation? Where are the children’s names? Surely out of 215 children at least one parent, grand parents or friend would have come forward by now!
The excuses put forward to concel what increasely looks like a hoax if not an outright fraud are about on par with what might expect from a preschooler! And serious adult organizations from the RCMP to media and governments indulge these fraudsters! I don’t know who should be more ashamed. The fraudsters or people and agencies that indulge them?