Over 170 ‘plausible burials’ detected in search for unmarked graves at former Kenora residential school site
Wauzhushk Onigum Nation┬аsays ground-penetrating radar (GPR) has detected┬аmore than 170 anomalies during a search for unmarked graves at the site of a former residential school in Kenora, Ont.
The┬аanomalies, referred to as “plausible burials,”┬аwere found in┬аcemetery grounds associated with the former St. Mary’s Indian Residential School, Wauzhushk Onigum Nation said in a media release Tuesday.
The search began in May.
“With the exception of five┬аgrave markers, the remaining┬аare unmarked by any grave or burial markers,” the release said. “The site has been secured consistent with the Nation’s┬аAnishinaabe protocols.”
Wauzhushk Onigum said it plans to investigate the┬аanomalies┬аfurther┬аand conduct searches┬аat additional sites “that have┬аbeen identified through survivor testimony, archeological┬аassessment┬аand archival investigations that┬аshow burial rituals being conducted by former residential school staff,” the release said.
St. Mary’s Indian Residential School was operated by the Roman Catholic Church from 1897 to 1972. The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation’s says at least 36 students died while attending the school.
First Nation meets with government officials
On Tuesday,┬аWauzhushk Onigum┬аrepresentatives were to meet with federal Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller, Ontario Minster of Indigenous Affairs Greg Rickford, federal Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu┬аand┬аKimberly Murray, special interlocutor for missing children and unmarked graves and burial sites associated with residential schools.
The meeting is to discuss the next steps┬аand resources to cover the upcoming investigations.
“We are hopeful that our discussions with Canada and┬аOntario [Tuesday] afternoon will be productive,” Wauzhushk Onigum Chief Chris Skead said in a statement. “Both Canada and Ontario have continued to express their┬аcommitment to reconciliation, to the truth, and to healing of our communities.
“We look forward to hearing┬аif they will continue to honour these commitments.”
Canada operated over 150 residential schools for over 140 years, with the last one,┬аin Saskatchewan, closing┬аin 1996.
An estimated 150,000 Indigenous children were taken from their homes and forced to go to the schools┬аand assimilate into settler culture.
In May 2021, the T’kemlups te Secwepemc First Nation announced it had identified┬аan estimated 200 potential burial sites at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. Since then, hundreds more potential sites have been identified across Canada.
