WARNING: This story contains details of experiences at residential schools.
An investigation has detected 114 “unmarked burial features” on the former property of McIntosh Indian Residential School (IRS) in the Kenora district of northwestern Ontario, the Wiikwogaming Tiinahtiisiiwin Project Team said Thursday.
It’s one of multiple searches underway for missing children and unmarked burials at residential school sites across Canada.
According to the Paths to Reconciliation map of unmarked burial sites on Canadian Geographic, there are an additional five sites in northwestern Ontario with active investigations. This includes the Pelican Lake IRS near Sioux Lookout, Ont. and St. Mary’s IRS in Kenora. In January 2023, over 170 “plausible burials” were found in cemetery grounds associated with the former St. Mary’s IRS.
The McIntosh IRS investigation used ground penetrating radar (GPR) and visual surveys to search a small area of the grounds.
The survey “focused on specific areas of interest where members of Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek (Grassy Narrows First Nation) and the Elders Advisory Committee anticipated unmarked burials,” said a release from the project team.
Of the 114, the majority were found within the historical cemetery area and eight were found elsewhere on the property.
The findings were determined to be consistent with the shape, size and pattern of graves or burials based on specific criteria, including:
- The presence of rectangular depressions measuring 55 to 245 centimetres in length.
- Evidence of previous soil disturbance within the immediate vicinity of the rectangular depression.
- Orientation of rectangular depressions in an east-west alignment.
- Clear distinct patterning of rectangular depressions in systematically defined rows
The release said the majority of burial features within the historical cemetery met at least three of the above criteria, with the remainder meeting at least two.
“Over 70 of the depressions representing burial features documented within the historical cemetery area measure 140 cm [nearly 4.6 feet] or less in length, and likely represent the grave of a child,” said the release.
165 names of people recorded as buried on IRS grounds
The Wiikwogaming Tiinahtiisiiwin Project Team said it found the names of 165 people who were recorded as having been buried on the IRS grounds. Most of them were children, with some adults from Grassy Narrows First Nation, said the release.
McIntosh IRS, founded in 1925 by Roman Catholic missionaries with federal government support, was among the 48 residential schools run by The Oblates of Mary Immaculate. McIntosh closed its doors in 1969.
At least two Oblates school administrators are also recorded as having been buried on McIntosh IRS property, said the release.
CBC has reached out to the Oblates for comment.
The majority of the IRS property hasn’t been searched yet, said the Wiikwogaming Tiinahtiisiiwin Project Team.
“Investigation only covered a very small portion of the area recommended to search for unmarked burials associated with the McIntosh IRS,” said the release.
The team plans to search other areas it suspects could be locations for burial sites later this year, but said that would require federal funding.
Across Canada, more than 150,000 Indigenous children were forced to attend residential schools, the last of which closed in 1996.
An estimated 6,000 children died in the schools, though experts say the actual number could be much higher.
A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line is available to provide support for survivors and those affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour service at 1-866-925-4419.
Mental health counselling and crisis support are also available 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the Hope for Wellness hotline at 1-855-242-3310 or by online chat
