KSS WOULD LIKE TO THANK ELDER GROUSE BARNES FOR HIS HEARTFELT AND EDUCATIONAL WELCOMING TO THE 2022 KSS BEST OF THE WEST JR. BOYS AND JR. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS. 

"AS A SETTLER ON THESE LANDS, I HUMBLY AND GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS TOURNAMENT IS BEING HELD ON THE UNCEDED, TRADITIONAL TERRITORY OF THE OKANAGAN SYILX PEOPLES. HOW FORTUNATE ARE WE TO LIVE, LEARN, WORK, AND PLAY OUR FAVOURITE SPORTS ON THESE BEAUTIFUL LANDS."

"TODAY, CENTRAL OKANAGAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS MARKS THE NATIONAL DAY FOR TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION AS WELL AS ORANGE SHIRT DAY. THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, OUR SCHOOL ENGAGED IN LEARNING ABOUT TRUTH, REFLECTION, AND RECONCILIATION.  WE ARE COMMITTED TO ONGOING DEEP LEARNING ABOUT INDIGENOUS WAYS OF KNOWING AND BEING. ON MONDAY, WE HELD A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR 215 SECONDS, A MOMENT OF TIME SYMBOLIC OF RECENT RECOVERIES AT RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SITES, A NUMBER THAT WE KNOW NOW IS MUCH LARGER THAN 215."

PRIOR TO STARTING TODAY'S TOURNAMENT, WE ASK THAT ALL PLAYERS, COACHES, STAFF, SPECTATORS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS BOW THEIR HEADS FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN HONOUR OF ALL INDIGENOUS CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY THE RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ALONGSIDE INDIGENOUS LEADERS, COMMUNITIES, AND FAMILIES IN OUR DISTRICT WITH CULTURAL HUMILITY. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THOSE WHO HAVE LED THIS IMPORTANT WORK THUS FAR, AND WE COMMIT TO CONTINUING THIS JOURNEY FOR THE SAKE OF ALL THE CHILDREN ENTRUSTED TO OUR CARE."