What comes next in the search for missing residential school children?
The ʕaaḥuusʔath (Ahousaht) First Nation re‐ leased findings this week from the first phase of its search for missing children who attended two residen‐ tial schools in its territory in B.C.
They are one of several First Nations and Indigenous communities across the country using ground-pene‐ trating radar to identify po‐ tential unmarked grave loca‐ tions at the sites of former residential schools.
More than 150,000 First Nations, Métis and Inuit chil‐ dren were forced to attend church-run, government-fun‐ ded residential schools be‐ tween the 1870s and 1997.
The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation estimated that more than 4,100 chil‐ dren died while attending the schools.
The Ahousaht First Nation said the team went over the ground surveys it conducted, as well as archival research and oral history from both Ahousaht Indian Residential School on Maaqutusiis (Flo‐ res Island) and the Christie Indian Residential School on Hilth hoo is (Meares Island), located on ̣ʕaaḥuusʔath ter‐ ritory, about 220 kilometres northwest of Victoria.
Potential unmarked grave locations were noted near both Ahousaht Indian Resi‐ dential School and the Chris‐ tie Indian Residential School.
However, the radar does not find human remains. It detects soil disturbances that are inconsistent with the sur‐ rounding area, which com‐ bined with community knowledge can help identify where there may potentially be unmarked graves.
No First Nations in B.C. have yet taken the step of ex‐ cavating these sites and the decision about whether to do so is a difficult one that re‐ quires planning and consul‐ tation with communities and families.
The CBC's Wawmeesh Hamilton discusses what comes next:
A national Indian Residen‐ tial School Crisis Line is avail‐ able to provide support for survivors and those affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour service at 1-866-925-4419.
Mental health counselling and crisis support are also available 24 hours a day, seven days a week through the Hope for Wellness hotline at 1-855-242-3310 or by online chat.