Suspected grave sites, children's deaths found in probe of B.C. residential school
CTV
The chief of the Tseshaht First Nation on Vancouver Island says ground-penetrating radar has detected 17 suspected grave sites around the property of the former Alberni Indian Residential School.
A Vancouver Island First Nation has announced the detection of 17 suspected unmarked graves at the site of a former residential school, in an emotional event that combined science and ceremony on Tuesday.
The Tseshaht First Nation, which took the lead in an 18-month effort to find potential graves of schoolchildren at the former Alberni Indian Residential School, also said interviews with survivors, historical records and other documents show 67 students died at the school.
“We need to remember that all of these students were just children,” said Tseshaht Elected Chief Councillor Wahmeesh, whose English name is Ken Watts.
“They were just children. So ... for those of you that are not from our communities, I want you to think about that, think about what would happen today if children who were five years old were removed from their homes.
“That's the reality that our communities have to live with,” said Wahmeesh, who wore a traditional cedar headband.
The announcement was preceded by drumming and singing, and portions of the event were blacked out in a livestream because of cultural sensitivities.
Many at the ceremony wore orange, the colour that has come to represent those who died and the survivors of Canada's residential schools. Dozens of women slowly danced to the drumming, turning on the spot in their orange shawls.
