By Daniel Habashi, TikTok Canada General Manager

On Friday, May 28th, Canadians learned of the discovery of the remains of 215 children at the former site of the Kamloops Indian Residential School on Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc First Nations land. This is a shocking reminder of the atrocities that were committed through Canada's Residential School System, and the trauma and pain that continue to impact generations of Indigenous children and families.

We stand with Indigenous communities to acknowledge and honour these children and all families who have been impacted by the destructive Residential School System in Canada.

Every day, creators of all backgrounds come to TikTok to connect and learn from a global community, and we are committed to making TikTok a place where all Canadians can learn more about the historical effects and current impact of the Residential School System — as well as the ongoing experiences Indigenous Peoples continue to face. We will be providing in-app resources and partnering with Indigenous-led non-profits to support this commitment.

We recognize that June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada and we look forward to continuing to share and celebrate the contributions and successes of Indigenous creators in meaningful ways throughout the month and every day of the year.

Getting Support

We acknowledge the trauma and impact this news may have on the Indigenous community and understand the lasting effects of the Residential School System. Support services are available for anyone feeling affected by the news.

  • The Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS) has set up a National Crisis Line to support former students and those affected. Call for counselling support at 1-800-721-0066 or their 24/7 National Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419.
  • In B.C., the KUU-US Crisis Line Society provides a First Nations and Indigenous-specific crisis line available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It can be reached at 1-800-588-8717 or online at kuu-uscrisisline.com.