Ahousaht First Nation releases findings from search for missing residential school children
CBC
WARNING: This story contains distressing details
ʕaaḥuusʔath (Ahousaht) First Nation released the findings from the first phase of its search for missing children who attended two residential schools in its territory on Wednesday in Ahousaht, B.C.
In a press conference in the community, the team went over the ground surveys it conducted, as well as archival research and oral history from both Ahousaht Indian Residential School on Maaqutusiis (Flores Island) and the Christie Indian Residential School on Hilth hoo is (Meares Island), located near ʕaaḥuusʔatḥ territory, about 220 kilometres northwest of Victoria.
Likely and potential unmarked grave locations were noted on both Ahousaht Indian Residential School and the Christie Indian Residential School.
"We need to investigate more and clarify and confirm," said Angus Campbell, an elected council member for Ahousaht First Nation. "We don't want to be not telling the truth."
The presentation said there are presumed graves in Ahousaht cemetery and a cluster of unknown features that need to be investigated further.
The findings also showed many inconsistencies between archival documentation of the schools and the gathered oral histories.
Wednesday was an emotional day, said Greg Louie, former chief of Ahousaht and a survivor of the Christie Residential School.
"A lot of people wanted to know numbers… I think going into the next, the next phase," said Louie.
"Was it my sister? Was it my mom? You know, who didn't make it home?"
Students from Ahousaht Residential School and Christie Residential School reported stories of slugs in the milk, worms in oatmeal and maggots in the food, which was contrary to archival reports of menus served at the schools.
"We're getting close to confirming some of what we've been told," said Campbell. "Not that we don't believe our people, but we need to confirm it for the rest of the world."
Ahousaht Indian Residential School opened in 1904 and ran until 1940.
The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) website said it was Presbyterian-run, until the United Church took over in 1925. The website said students were not permitted to speak their Indigenous language and every staff member carried a strap. The NCTR lists the names of 13 students known to have died there.
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