Recognizing that the results could be very traumatic and painful to many, the Nation has prepared a wellness support booklet with contacts, available at this link.
A 24 hour Residential School Crisis Line is also available at 1 866 925 4419, to support former students, and those impacted by the Residential School system.
Preliminary results from the first phase of a geophysical investigation in to a former Residential School site show 93 reflections of possible remains.
In June of last year, the Williams Lake First Nation began conducting the investigation, following the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves on Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc territory.
Today, they revealed the initial findings of the early stage of the investigation in to the former St Joseph’s Mission Residential School.
A number of probing methods have been used so far, including Aerial Light Imaging, low flight imagery, Magnetometry, ground penetrating radar, and more.
Through a combination of those methods, 93 reflections with characteristics indicative of potential human remains were discovered.
Also discovered during the probe was the possible location of an ancient cemetery, which has been used occasionally in modern times.
50 of the 93 reflections uncovered are not associated with the cemetery.
Through the investigation, the Nation also conducted interviews with survivors and loved ones, and heard stories of many horrible atrocities committed and covered up at the Mission.
It operated as a Residential School from 1891 to 1981, during which time thousands of First Nations children were forced to attend St Joseph’s Mission.
These results cover just 14 of 480 Hectares to be probed in the investigation, and there is still more of even that area to be discovered.
Additional Information (Extreme Trauma Warning):
These details are highly traumatic, but were revealed during the press conference with the Williams Lake First Nation. I, as author, feel it is important to share these details so people understand some of the scale of the atrocities committed and covered up over centuries. Please do not read past this point if you are dealing with trauma, or pain. The healing and recovery of all Nations impacted is the most important thing. Take care of yourselves, and your loved ones.
Several interviews conducted during the early stage of the investigation directly correlate with results from the probe.
Those interviews, first-hand stories, and re-told stories gave more light to the abhorrent conditions experienced at the site.
They tell of abuse, and even torture, for simply practicing their culture, or speaking their language.
Worse, they tell of extreme sexual abuse and assaults, all hidden and covered up by the Church, government, and more, at the time.
They also heard remembrances of bodies being thrown in rivers, incinerated, and more, permanently covering up the true number of lives taken.
Over the years, many complaints were levied, but ignored.
Church members accused of molesting and raping Indigenous children were let off with simple apologies, or slaps on the wrist.
There is still much more work to be done on the remaining Mission land, though nothing short of excavation will ever reveal the true loss of life.
It is the hope of the Williams Lake First Nation and other Nations involved to not only uncover the unmarked graves, but to put names to as many as possible.
In order to do this, numerous documents and records will be needed.
According to the Nation, they are still waiting on school quarterly returns, and daily pupil registrations for a large portion of the time the Mission was operating.
Last week, Ottawa announced they would be releasing more than 875,000 new and updated documents to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
Many Nations believe that those documents may hold the keys to putting names to some of the hundreds of unmarked graves discovered.
Recognizing that the results could be very traumatic and painful to many, the Nation has prepared a wellness support booklet with contacts, available at this link.
A 24 hour Residential School Crisis Line is also available at 1 866 925 4419, to support former students, and those impacted by the Residential School system.
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