St. Augustine Indian Residential School in Sechelt B.C. Image credit: facebook public photo by Sunshine Coast Museum and Archives
Vancouver/CMEDIA: 40 unmarked graves of children have been identified by ground-penetrating radar reportedly on or near the site of the former St. Augustine’s Residential School, the shishalh Nation on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast reports said.
A statement from the nation says after listening to elders and survivors of the residential school, stories shared of missing children have now been confirmed.
“The children have spoken, and we are listening. We have heard their voices,” the statement says.
Apart from ground-penetrating radar as one of the tools used in the archeological project, interviews with survivors and records of documented historical events were also included, the nation reportedly.
The nation has reportedly been working with the University of Saskatchewan to find the remains of children who didn’t return from St. Augustine’s Residential School.
The nation said the land where St. Augustine’s Residential School operated between 1904 and 1975 in the middle of the municipality of Sechelt, has been disturbed and developed.
According to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission parents withdrew their children in 1923 to protest against poor education, inadequate diet and harsh discipline.
Responding to the protest, the Commission officials appointed a new principal and increased school funding.
#BC, #BCFirstNations; #StAugustinesResidentialSchool; #TruthAndReconciliationCommission; #40UnmarkedGravesFound
