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Search for unmarked graves planned at former Mount Elgin Residential School in Ontario
CTV
The Chippewa of the Thames First Nation (COTTFN) is planning to begin a search for unmarked graves at the former Mount Elgin Industrial Residential School (MEIRS) in Muncey, Ont.
The Chippewa of the Thames First Nation (COTTFN) is planning to begin a search for unmarked graves at the former Mount Elgin Industrial Residential School (MEIRS) in Muncey, Ont.
Beginning this fall, COTTFN will begin a 'three-stage investigation' at the site of MEIRS which opened in 1850 and closed in 1946.
The plans for the investigation were announced during a video posted for the annual Orange Shirt Day event on their website.
"This investigation really is looking at the students that are associated with the residential school here at Chippewa," says Kelly Riley, director of treaty, lands and environment for COTTFN.
The first step is research, followed by 'ground truth' and the third step would only occur if remains are discovered according to Riley.
"We'll be doing some drone work, getting some aerial footage of potential locations around the residential school," says Riley.