Doukhobor survivors pen open letter, say they aren't being heard
Survivors of New Denver institution and their families want more say in how $10M compensation is distributed
A group of about 30 Doukhobors who were forcibly removed from their families by the B.C. government around 70 years ago have written an open letter to Premier David Eby, detailing concerns that their voices aren't being heard following an official apology by the province last month.
In the letter, the group thanks the government for its "meaningful apologies/acknowledgements" that were given in the legislature on Feb. 27.
But it says there was a lack of representation on the day from survivors.
"It was not easy for many of us survivors to attend the apology at the legislature due to a variety of reasons, such as being elderly, having health issues, up-front financial expenses in order to attend, etc.," the letter reads.
"As a result, we were under-represented and did not have a living survivor to speak on our behalf."
Many of the children who were taken from their families were placed in a former tuberculosis sanatorium in New Denver, B.C., about 150 kilometres east of Kelowna, between 1953 and 1959, where they later testified they received physical and psychological abuse.
In February, the B.C. government announced a $10 million compensation package aimed at reconciliation that will be used for community programs, research, education, wellness and mental-health supports. Attorney General Niki Sharma said $3.75 million would go to a health and wellness fund for survivors and their descendants.
But the letter from the survivors said their voices aren't being heard when it comes to detailing how the compensation will be distributed.
"We request primary involvement when it comes to determining the structure of a compensation package, decision-making and distribution of funding," it reads.
"It is time the government engages with us, a group of living survivors. Our collective voice needs to be heard and regarded."
Attorney general responds
In response to the open letter, Sharma told CBC News that the province is committed to listening and getting feedback from living survivors and the family members of the deceased.
"We understand that many are elderly and may find it challenging to use technology, so we are exploring how to best engage with them," she said.
"Our priority is to focus on the health and wellness portion of the package to ensure that survivors can access these funds in a low-barrier, timely manner."
Sharma says over the coming months her ministry will be working with "the whole community" to gain input on the best way to administer the funds to ensure support is available by summer 2024.
CBC News requested interviews with several survivors during a pair of private apologies in Castlegar and Grand Forks in early February. None of them were willing to comment.
This group says it has responded as a collective by sharing the open letter.
CBC News has contacted the premier's office for comment.
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With files from Ethan Sawyer