Invitation to the Media

Media Invited to the First Morning of the National Gathering on Unmarked Burials: Affirming Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Community Control over Information and Knowledge

On January 17, 2023, media are invited to attend the first morning of the National Gathering on Unmarked Burials:  Affirming Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Community Control over Information and Knowledge hosted by the Office of the Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites Associated with Indian Residential Schools (OSI).

Schedule:

8:30 am Gathering Co-Chairs: Dr. Gwendolyn Point and Tribal Chief Tyrone McNeil

  • Territorial Protocols and Call to Order
9:00 am Voices of Survivors:  Importance of Data Sovereignty and Access to Records in the Search and Recovery of Missing Children

  • Charlene Belleau, Williams Lake First Nation, BC
  • Karen Andrews, Prince George, BC
  • Wilbert Papik, Aklavik, NWT
10:00 am Opening Remarks – Kimberly Murray, Independent Special Interlocutor
10:15 am Wellness Break
10:30 am Keynote Address: Dr. Marie Wilson, Commissioner, Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (2009-2015): “Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Vision in the Creation of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation”
11:00 am – noon Participant Dialogue & Sharing

Members of the media are invited to attend as follows:

Date: Tuesday, January 17, 2023

Time: 8:30 am to noon PST

Media needing to set up a camera or access the audio feed are requested to arrive before 8:30 am

Location: Sheraton Vancouver Wall Center, North Tower- Grand Ballroom, 1000 Burrard Street, Vancouver BC V6Z 2R9, or view the livestream here: https://www.facebook.com/OSIBISinfo

Media accreditation is required: Members of the media attending in-person must register in advance by contacting info@osi-bis.ca with their name and media outlet.

Context:

This is the third National Gathering that the OSI is hosting. Each Gathering focuses on a key component central to the search and recovery of the children. The first Gathering, held last September in Edmonton, was Supporting the Search and Recovery of Missing Children. The second Gathering, held in Winnipeg in November, was Addressing Trauma in the Search and Recovery of Missing Children. Access Edmonton Summary Report.

Communications Contact:

Email: info@osi-bis.ca    Call or text: 250-267-7782

Stay Connected

All plenary sessions for the Gathering will be livestreamed: https://www.facebook.com/OSIBISinfo

Follow the Office of the Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites associated with Indian Residential Schools on Facebook and Twitter.