Dene Nation seeks approval to search 15 residential school sites for unmarked graves
CBC
Warning: This story discusses children missing at residential schools.
Dene Nation is proposing to search 15 residential school sites in the North for unmarked burial sites, a plan which brought up complicated and difficult emotions about what this undertaking will mean for survivors and the family of missing children.
Elder and former Tulita Chief Paul Andrew told the Dene Nation assembly, gathered just outside of Yellowknife this week, that he hopes the project brings closure to his family.
Andrew was at residential school for seven years, and his grandmother passed away without knowing what happened to her two daughters.
"I have often wondered what happened to them. Is it possible I have cousins somewhere in the world? Or is that it?"
"It's very possible that it will settle my soul if we are able to answer some of those questions," he said.
Many Elders and delegates were concerned about resurfacing painful memories and asked for the discussion to be put off.
Dettah Elder Alfred Baillargeon said in Wıı̀lıı̀deh Yatıı̀ that the Dene National Assembly is there to "make resolutions for the betterment of our people."
"I don't agree with talking about the burial sites while we are here."
The project team includes Gwichya Gwich'in professor Crystal Fraser, a renowned expert in residential school history at the University of Calgary, PhD student and Pehdzeh Ki First Nation member Rebecca Gray, and Dr. Brian Moorman, a "world expert" in ground penetrating radar, who has experience studying burial sites in Fort Providence and at Taltheilei Narrows.
Gray has worked on similar projects in the south.
"I feel very strongly that this work needs to have emotional support, spiritual support for anyone who is being involved in it," she said.
Research coordinator Tom Andrews told the delegation the project plan is to spend a year researching archives for potential unmarked grave sites, interviewing Elders and gathering names of students who were recorded as having died in residential schools.
The ground-penetrating radar part of the project would take place in the second year, once the frost is off the ground, he said.
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