BATC getting federal help to find unmarked graves at two residential school sites

The Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs (BATC) are getting help from the federal government to find the unmarked graves of children who went missing while attending the Battleford Industrial and Thunderchild residential schools.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Crown-Indigenous Relations announced funding of around $2.8 million over three years to support the BATC’s initiative to “research, document and honour the memory” of the children who attended the two schools.

Searches using ground-penetrating radar began last summer, but have yet to discover any graves.

The Battleford Industrial Residential School opened in 1883 and closed in 1914, while the Thunderchild Indian Residential School — also known as the St. Henri or Delmas Residential School — operated from 1901 until 1948.

The Battleford Industrial School in 1895. (Facebook)

According to the federal government, 107 deaths were recorded at the Battleford Industrial school during its operation, while 44 deaths were recorded at the Delmas school.

“As Tribal Chair of the Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs, I am thrilled with the announcement that the Canadian government is funding the searches and the commemoration for those affected by the tragic history of the Indian Residential Schools,” Chief Cheryl Kahpeaysewat of the Moosomin First Nation said in a media release.

“The searches will confirm what was known by all the Nations surrounding the Battlefords. It was known that children lay in unmarked graves. We don’t know if the deaths were recorded or where the children are buried. This announcement will help fund the research to find answers to these questions, answers for all the families that attended the two schools.”

The BATC — which represents the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, Moosomin First Nation, Red Pheasant Cree Nation, Sweetgrass First Nation, Stoney Knoll First Nation, Saulteaux First Nation, and Mosquito, Grizzly Bear’s Head, Lean Man First Nations — is to work with the Elders’ Council for cultural support and guidance during the project.

According to the release, having representatives of First Nations lead the process will ensure the BATC can do the work in its own way and at its own pace.

Chief Lorie Whitecalf of the Sweetgrass First Nation said in the release the only child whose grave has been found from the Delmas school was a relative of hers named Henry Atcheynum, who died in 1910 at the age of 14.

“We have no information regarding his death or how he became buried in the cemetery,” Whitecalf said. “I am relieved that the Canadian government has finally taken responsibility of the tragedy that our people endured and were forced to suppress.

“This funding will solidify what was known in our Nations and will be known by future generations.”

The federal government announced in August it would provide around $320 million to First Nations as they searched for the unmarked graves of potential victims. To date, around $117 million has been invested in those projects.

“A very difficult job lies ahead for First Nations to research and explore the former sites of Delmas Catholic Residential School and the Battleford Industrial School,” Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Marc Miller said in the release.

“We recognize that this is an emotional and challenging time, as First Nations make efforts to seek the truth and heal — and we remain committed to supporting them in addressing the harms done.”