A woman looks over orange shirts, shoes, flowers and messages displayed on the steps outside the legislature in Victoria on Tuesday, June 8, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Listen to article
CRANBROOK, B.C. The Lower Kootenay Band in British Columbia s southern Interior says a search using ground-penetrating radar has found the remains of 182 people in unmarked graves at a site close to a former residential school.
It says the community of aq am began using the technology last year to search a site near Cranbrook that s close to the former St. Eugene s Mission School.
The band said in a news release Wednesday that the search found the remains in unmarked graves, some as shallow as 90 centimetres to 1.2 metres. It s believed the remains are those of people from Ktunaxa nations, including aq am and the Lower Kootenay Band, as well as other neighbouring First Nations.
B.C. nations say 182 unmarked graves found in cemetery near former residential school
Poll
yes
By The Canadian Press on June 30, 2021.
A woman looks over orange shirts, shoes, flowers and messages displayed on the steps outside the legislature in Victoria on Tuesday, June 8, 2021 following a ceremony in honour of the 215 residential school children whose remains were detected near a former residential school at Kamloops, B.C. The Lower Kootenay Band in B.C. s southern Interior says a search using ground-penetrating radar has also found the remains of 182 people in unmarked graves at another residential school site.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
“It’s pretty emotional,” he said. “Particularly for survivors of residential schools.” Since the gravesites of the missing children were located in Kamloops last month, Tseshaht First Nation elected chief Ken Watts said he’s received at least one call every day from survivors with leads to potential sites. After consulting with hereditary chiefs, residential school survivors, council and staff, the nation applied to Ottawa, requesting some of the $27-million federal funding being made available to help communities locate children who died at residential schools. There are 139 recognized residential schools in Canada. If the $27 million was distributed equally among them all, Tseshaht would receive less than $200,000.
CFNR Network
Jun 30, 2021 | 5:09 PM
Premier John Horgan, announcing the funding for the new community centre in Lower Post. Source: Province of B.C.
June 30
th marked an important day for the survivors of a former residential school in Lower Post. 46 years to the day after the school closed in 1975, the Daylu Dena Council held an important gathering where Survivors shared their experiences as they watched a ceremonial demolition of the school, removing a constant reminder of a painful past.
The removal of this grievous memorial means the community can look toward the future construction of a multi-purpose building for the Kaska Dena. The planned new facility is designed around community needs to gather, celebrate and learn – and to support healing.
B C First Nations say 182 unmarked graves found in cemetery near former residential school timescolonist.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from timescolonist.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.