Canada

Search detects 114 ‘unmarked burial features’ on former McIntosh Indian Residential School property

An investigation has uncovered a distressing discovery at the former McIntosh Indian Residential School in northwestern Ontario. The Wiikwogaming Tiinahtiisiiwin Project Team has found 114 “unmarked burial features” on the school’s property, shedding light on the tragic history of residential schools in Canada.

This finding is part of a larger effort to locate missing children and unmarked burials at former residential school sites across the country. According to the Paths to Reconciliation map of unmarked burial sites, there are five other sites in northwestern Ontario currently under investigation, including Pelican Lake IRS and St. Mary’s IRS.

In January 2023, over 170 “plausible burials” were discovered at the former St. Mary’s IRS, further emphasizing the need to uncover the hidden truths of Canada’s residential school system.

The McIntosh IRS investigation utilized ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and visual surveys to search a specific area of the grounds. The team focused on areas where unmarked burials were anticipated, with the majority of the 114 burial features found within the historical cemetery area.

The criteria used to identify these burial features included the presence of rectangular depressions, evidence of soil disturbance, and a systematic alignment in rows. The majority of the depressions were consistent with child-sized graves, further highlighting the heartbreaking reality of the lives lost at these schools.

The Wiikwogaming Tiinahtiisiiwin Project Team also uncovered the names of 165 individuals buried on the IRS grounds, most of whom were children from the Grassy Narrows First Nation. Established in 1925 by Roman Catholic missionaries with government support, McIntosh IRS was one of 48 residential schools operated by The Oblates of Mary Immaculate before closing in 1969.

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Despite these findings, the majority of the IRS property remains unsearched. The team plans to explore other areas suspected of containing burial sites later this year, pending federal funding support.

The discovery at McIntosh IRS is a somber reminder of the dark legacy of residential schools in Canada. With over 150,000 Indigenous children forced to attend these institutions and an estimated 6,000 deaths reported, the true toll of this tragic chapter in Canadian history is still being uncovered.

For those affected by the legacy of residential schools, support is available through the national Indian Residential School Crisis Line at 1-866-925-4419. Mental health counseling and crisis support can also be accessed 24/7 through the Hope for Wellness hotline at 1-855-242-3310 or online chat.

As we continue to reckon with the painful truths of Canada’s residential school system, it is essential to honor the lives lost and support those who carry the weight of this traumatic history.

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