Evidence of potential unmarked graves was found at a former residential school in Northern Alberta.
A third generation residential school survivor and Grand Chief of Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council, Roderick Willier spent 10 years at St. Bruno’s Indian Residential School in Joussard.
Trying to find answers, the council and neighboring communities invited an Indigenous archaeology team out to the former residential school site. This week, the group released the findings from the first phase.
The total potential unmarked graves sits at 88, with 69 of those being inside the cemetery and the remainder being outside.
The nations are working with the province and the Institute of Prairie and Indigenous Archaeology on next steps.
If you are a former residential school student in distress, or have been affected by the residential school system and need help, you can contact the 24-hour Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419, or the Indian Residential School Survivors Society toll-free line at 1-800-721-0066.
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