InMay2021,theworldwasshockedbythenewsofthedetectionof215unmarkedgravesonthegroundsoftheformerKamloopsIndianResidentialSchool(KIRS)inBritishColumbia,Canada.Ground-penetratingradarestablishedthedeathsofstudentsasyoungasthreeintheinfamousresidentialschoolsystem,wherechildrenweresystematicallyremovedfromtheirfamiliesandbroughttotheschools.AttheseChristian-runandgovernment-supportedinstitutions,theyweresubjectedtophysical,mentalandsexualabusewhiletheirIndigenouslanguagesandtraditionswerestifledanddenounced.Theegregiousabusessufferedatresidentialschoolseverywherecreatedamulti-generationallegacyoftraumaforthosewhosurvivedand,asthe2021discoveriesconfirmed,deathfortoomany.“Tsquelmucw穩lc“(pronouncedcha-CAL-mux-weel)isaSecwepemcphraselooselytranslatedas“Wereturntobeinghumanagain.“Tsqelmucw穩lcisthestoryofthosewhosurvivedtheKamloopsIndianResidentialSchool,basedonthebookResistanceandRenewal,agroundbreakinghistoryoftheschoolpublishedin1988―thefirstbookonresidentialschoolseverpublishedinCanada.Tsqelmucw穩lcincludestheoriginaltextaswellasnewmaterialbytheoriginalbook’sauthor,CeliaHaig-Brown;essaysbySecwepemcpoetandKIRSsurvivorGarryGottfriedsonandNuu-Chah-NulthelderandresidentialschoolsurvivorRandyFred;andfirst-handreminiscencesbyothersurvivorsofKIRSaswellastheirchildrenontheirexperienceofKIRSandtheimpactoftheirresidentialschooltraumathroughouttheirlives.Readbothwithinandoutsidethecontextofthegrim2021discoveries,Tsqelmucw穩lcisatragicstoryinthehistoryofIndigenouspeoplesoftheindignitiessufferedatthehandsoftheircolonizers,butitisequallyaremarkabletaleofIndigenoussurvival,resilience,andcourage.
