Ground-penetrating radar finds 66 new reflections at St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School in Williams Lake

“The bigger, broader discussions is next steps about what we do with those findings. There have been discussions around excavation, exhumation and sampling DNA. The bigger broader discussion needs to be nations that are impacted,” said Sellars.

With more than 150 reflections now found and more searches still being planned, the path ahead is not yet clear for the community. Sellars noted 48 different First Nation communities had kids attend the school, and work must be done collaboratively.

“What we are focusing on is just finding the truth and the education that comes with that truth. The stories, the horrific recounts of survivors’ times and our ancestors’ times at the school. How we heal our community is the number one on the priority list,” said Sellars.

As First Nation and non-Indigenous communities continue to walk down the road toward reconciliation, Sellars hopes this latest confirmation will help educate the public on the trauma faced by Indigenous communities.

“We are continuing to uncover the truth and keeping it in the mainstream media so that every single Canadian is aware of the history and legacy of residential schools in this country,” said Sellars. “Why Indigenous people are the way that they are and how we were stripped of things that we hold so close to our heart and our balance as individuals and as a culture.”

At this time, the band has no firm date for when Phase Three of the radar search will begin.

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For more information:

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada

Support Resources:

KUU-US Crisis Line: 1-800-588-8717
Tsow-Tun-Le Lum: 1-866-403-3123
Indian Residential School Survivors Society Toll-Free Line: 1-800-721-0066
24hr National Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419

by Michael Reeve, CFJC Today

Ground-penetrating radar finds 66 new reflections at St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School in Williams Lake

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