Canada First Nations finds 40 suspected unmarked graves

Shishalh First Nations in Canada’s British Columbia province said Thursday that ground-penetrating radar has located what is believed to be 40 unmarked graves at a former Indian Residential School.

The Nation said older tribal members have said for decades that such graves existed at the old St. Augustine’s Residential School.

“We have always known the truth our elders have told us and we always believed them. We want to show the little ones to know we haven’t forgotten them, we love them, and they are important,” said Chief Lenora Joe of Shíshalh Nation. “The children have spoken, and we are listening. We have heard their voices.”

The research into the residential school grounds is a joint project between the First Nations and the University of Saskatchewan. Associate professor Terry Clark said there was no doubt the suspected graves were there and they “didn’t need GPR (ground-penetrating radar) to prove this happened.”

“This (40 possible graves) is a very conservative number. Through all aspects of the research, we strongly believe there are many more,” he said.