SA国际影视传媒

Editor's note: This story contains references to residential schools that some readers may find disturbing.

Deninu K'ue First Nation (DKFN) says its archeological team has located seven unmarked graves, five of which belong to children, at Mission Island as part of an investigation into deaths of children at St. JosephSA国际影视传媒檚 Residential School.

SA国际影视传媒淲hile growing up I heard stories of children who were mistreated at the school SA国际影视传媒� children who got sick and died because of malnutrition or abuse," Chief Louis Balsillie said on Aug. 7. "We know that during the 1940s, eight children died at the school SA国际影视传媒� seven of them were girls. Statistically, that cannot happen without a cause. What happened to these girls?

"Now we are finding children buried on Mission Island. I am committed to continuing our investigation into what happened at the schools to bring about so many deaths,SA国际影视传媒� Balsillie added.

The chief said stated his social media account that the graves were found in the back of the "big cross."

Locating the graves marks a major step in an investigation on Mission Island that has been ongoing since the late Angus Beaulieu told DKFN that the island was a likely burial ground for victims. A "mission school" was in operation on the island from 1857 to 1890. The school was then moved to Fort Resolution and occupied the St. Joseph's Residential School complex in 1903.

The school and adjacent Fort Resolution cemetery became fully operational in 1910.

After searching the island multiple times since 2022, a burial site was finally located and excavation began, revealing the seven unmarked graves. The identities of the individuals discovered have not yet been determined.