Williams Lake First Nation calls on mayor to resign after he shared residential schools post

The mayor of Williams Lake, B.C., is facing calls to resign after he shared a social media post claiming there is an "other side" to residential schools.

City council is set to hold a meeting Tuesday to discuss Walt Cobb's sharing of the post, which follows similar comments made by a local councillor last year.

"It's very discouraging and disheartening and disappointing," Williams Lake First Nation Chief Willie Sellars told CBC News. "Here's a person in power or a person we're trying to build a relationship with so that we can promote this region in a positive way.

"We would love to see the mayor of Williams Lake step down from his position, to open up that space for somebody who is more open minded to the process of reconciliation."

Cobb shared the post Friday on his private Facebook account.

It claimed to be authored by someone with Indigenous family members, and alleged there were positive aspects of residential schools but that young Indigenous people "just want to be victims" seeking money, and that most survivors had "forgiven."

Cobb told the Williams Lake Tribune he shared the post after it was forwarded by a contact, and added, "I think we need to look at every side of everything."

Attempts to reach the mayor at his home, on his cellphone, and via social media and email were unsuccessful, and the Facebook post has since been deleted. 

Roughly 150,000 Indigenous children were forced to attend residential schools. At the institutions, children were subjected to sexual, physical and emotional abuse as well as the loss of their cultures, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission said.

In August, First Nations in the Williams Lake area began a ground-penetrating radar search for unmarked graves at the site of the local residential school, St. Joseph's Mission, which closed in 1981. That search is ongoing.

"My dad went to St. Joseph's Mission," Sellars said. "Just think about it: We're one generation removed from people attending those schools.

"When people talk about the 'other side' of the story, we're still on this side. We're still talking about the triggers and the traumas."

In June 2020, Coun. Marnie Brenner said in a council meeting "there are always two sides" during a discussion about the schools. The councillor later apologized for her words.

At the time, local Indigenous communities invited city councillors to take part in healing ceremonies and meet elders.