Since the May 2021 announcement by the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation regarding 215 potential unmarked graves at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, Indigenous communities across Canada have undertaken extensive investigations into unmarked graves at former residential school sites. These efforts, primarily utilizing ground-penetrating radar (GPR), have identified over 2,000 potential unmarked graves as of February 2025.
Notable findings include the Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan, which reported detecting an estimated 751 unmarked graves near the former Marieval Indian Residential School. Similarly, the Lower Kootenay Band in British Columbia announced the discovery of 182 potential unmarked graves near the former Kootenay Indian Residential School. In Ontario, the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory's investigation at the site of the former McIntosh Residential School identified 114 potential unmarked burial features. It's important to note that these figures are based on GPR data indicating anomalies consistent with graves; to date, no human remains have been exhumed or conclusively identified at these sites.
Investigations are ongoing at several former residential school sites. For instance, the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory continues to explore the grounds of the former McIntosh Residential School, where 114 potential unmarked burial features were identified. Discussions are also underway regarding the exploration of other known residential school locations, such as the Mohawk Institute Residential School in Ontario, commonly referred to as the "Mush Hole."
It's crucial to recognize that these counts do not include potential unmarked graves of residential school children buried on church grounds or other locations not directly associated with the residential school properties. The full scope of unmarked graves related to the residential school system remains under investigation, and efforts are ongoing to provide a more comprehensive understanding of this tragic aspect of Canadian history.
The process of uncovering the truth is ongoing, but it is slow and complicated by legal, cultural, and emotional challenges. Indigenous communities are leading these investigations, balancing the need for answers with the necessity of respecting the spirits of those lost. The Canadian government has pledged funding for these searches, but the real work of healing will take generations. Until every lost child is accounted for, these searches will continue. And until Canada fully reckons with its history, the wounds inflicted by the residential school system will remain open.
🦅🪶❤️🖤💛🤍
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Sources:
Canadian Indian Residential School Gravesites - Wikipedia
Hundreds of Unmarked Graves Found in Former Indian Residential School - Snopes
182 Human Remains in Unmarked Graves Found at Site of Former Residential School - Global News
114 'Unmarked Burial Features' Detected on Former McIntosh Indian Residential School Property - Daily US Times
114 Possible Unmarked Graves Found at McIntosh Indian Residential School in Canada - Yeni Şafa
Sources:
Canadian Indian Residential School Gravesites - Wikipedia
Investigation Finds Dozens of Potential Unmarked Graves – NWO News Watch
Mapping Canada’s Residential School Burials – StoryMaps
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