PORT ALBERNI, BC – A Vancouver Island First Nation says it is ready to release the results of its preliminary investigation into possible unmarked graves on the site of a former boarding school near Port Alberni, BC
The Tseshaht First Nation says the results will be released in Port Alberni on February 21.
It says ground-penetrating radar has been used to survey the area around the former Alberni Indian Residential School site for the past 18 months, mirroring probes at other former residential schools in BC and Canada.
A history compiled by the Tseshaht found that children from at least 100 B.C. First Nations attended the Port Alberni school while it was in operation from 1900 to 1973.
A statement released Monday from Tseshaht’s Chief Councilor-elect Wahmeesh, whose English name is Ken Watts, said the preliminary results may be difficult but will give survivors and the First Nation “the knowledge and tools that are needed.” , to continue (the) important and sacred work”.
The results of the second phase of a survey of possible graves at the former St. Joseph’s Mission near Williams Lake were released last month and revealed an additional 66 “reflections,” adding to the previously discovered 93 potential graves.
The investigation at St. Joseph’s comes after a ground-penetrating radar system believed to have located more than 200 graves at the former Indian Residential School in Kamloops nearly two years ago.
The final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which documented the experiences of those affected by Canada’s boarding school system, found that between 1870 and 1990 at least 4,100 children died while attending the facilities.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on February 14, 2023.
The Canadian Press
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