With no substantive actions to date sa国际传媒渢o show a sincere commitment for reconciliation,sa国际传媒� Penticton Indian Band (PIB) Chief and council will not be recognizing National Truth and Reconciliation Day.

In a statement provided to the media, Chief Greg Gabriel said it is far too premature to celebrate this day.

sa国际传媒淎fter the discovery of the first 215 childrensa国际传媒檚 graves at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School site, the Penticton Indian Band Chief and council are unanimous in their decision that they will not recognize the Sept. 30th Truth and Reconciliation Day,sa国际传媒� the statement reads.

Council agreed with and stood behind Chief Gabrielsa国际传媒檚 statement that there has been no real substantive actions to date to show a genuine or sincere commitment for reconciliation.

sa国际传媒淔or years, we have heard the same statements and promises being made and yet everything remains status quo. We as a people have struggled and continue to suffer from the effects of colonialism forced onto us by the Catholic Church and the Government of Canada. We hope that all citizens look at ways to educate themselves on the true history of what we as a people continue to struggle with.sa国际传媒�

However, the PIB council and chief said they donsa国际传媒檛 want to discourage any of sa国际传媒渙ur relatives, friends or communities from having events that recognize and honour those lives lost as a result of the residential school atrocity and those who wish to honour all survivors that have thrived and remain with us.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淲e encourage all to keep the message strong and loud, that sa国际传媒榃e are Still Heresa国际传媒� and sa国际传媒榃e Will Never Forget.sa国际传媒� Our message and reminder has to always remain strong. We encourage everyone to wear your orange shirts on Sept. 30.sa国际传媒�

The PIB joins the Lower Similkameen Indian Band Chief Keith Crow in questioning what this day is supposed to represent.

sa国际传媒淗ow do you celebrate a Truth and Reconciliation Day? How do you celebrate the death of all these children that died in residential schools, how do you celebrate that?sa国际传媒� said Crow.

At the burned down Sacred Hearts Catholic Church site on PIB land in June, Chief Gabriel said many people in his community are hurting and angry at the horrific discovery of 215 graves of those sa国际传媒渋nnocent, poor children.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淭heresa国际传媒檚 anger across Canada. Myself, Isa国际传媒檓 very angry. I will do whatever I can in our leadership to make sure people are held accountable for those atrocities. It has to be a criminal investigation because that evil act is criminal. There needs to be a full criminal investigation, and people need to be held criminally responsible,sa国际传媒� Gabriel said at the time.

The Penticton Indian Band joined the Syilx Okanagan Nationsa国际传媒檚 For the Children Caravan to the Kamloops Residential School on June 26.