Millions wasted? Kamloops 'grave' funds funnelled to consultants and PR firms

Records show that over $10 million in taxpayer funds that was allocated to search for purported children's graves was diverted to consultants and publicists instead.

Millions earmarked to uncover suspected graves at a former Kamloops residential school have instead lined the pockets of consultants, publicists, and bureaucrats, according to records obtained by Blacklock's Reporter.

Despite claims of 215 “potential” graves in 2021—later revised to 200—no remains have been unearthed.

Despite questioning from the Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations about exhumation protocols or DNA testing, there has been no evidence of forensic work.

The department censored details of the spending until the Information Commissioner ordered their release to Blacklock's.

The Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation originally received $7.9 million for fieldwork, record searches, and securing the school grounds. However, the funding later increased to $12.1 million.

Financial records show $37,500 was spent on marketing, $54,000 on travel, and $405,000 on administrative costs, including speaking fees and tent rentals.

Consultants were hired to develop “communications strategies,” and funding was allocated for unrelated projects like a healing center, museum, and elder’s lodge.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had announced the funding after expressing “horror” over the Kamloops claims, which led to flags being lowered for 161 days.

Kimberley Murray, Ottawa’s special interlocutor on unmarked graves says critics of the claims incite hate.

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Sheila Gunn Reid

Chief Reporter

Sheila Gunn Reid is the Alberta Bureau Chief for Rebel News and host of the weekly The Gunn Show with Sheila Gunn Reid. She's a mother of three, conservative activist, and the author of best-selling books including Stop Notley.

COMMENTS

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  • Barry Meier
    commented 2025-01-28 00:24:55 -0500
    I’m pretty sure they’ll start excavating these sites soon. They could have dug a bunch up with a shovel long ago but that might prove there’s nothing there, which seems most likely.
  • Bruce Atchison
    commented 2025-01-27 18:16:56 -0500
    This is proof that the search for supposed burial sites was all a scam. Had the band really desired to find any remains of children on school property, they’d have spent all the funding on that. Their hiring of consultants, who give the con and live like sultans, and public relations people shows it’s all an act to make the white man pay. And what will the general public say when somebody who was truly harmed by government policy believe? These grifters have made all native clames suspect.