Investigation to take place on grounds at former Nova Scotia residential school
Nova Scotia's Sipekne'katik First Nation says it will begin an investigation this weekend of the former Shubenacadie Indian Residential school site grounds.
In a news release, Chief Mike Sack says the work has been "top of mind" for many years, and the recent discovery of what are believed to be the remains of 215 Indigenous children at a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C., has brought a "renewed sense of urgency."
The work will be carried out by Jonathan Fowler, an associate professor with Saint Mary's University, and a leading researcher in archeological geophysics and remote sensing.
The band says Fowler will focus his investigation on the former school grounds to determine if there is any burial evidence on site by using several techniques including ground-penetrating radar.
He will be working directly with community members and Mi'kmaq cultural heritage curator for the Nova Scotia Museum, Roger Lewis, as a co-investigator.
Dorene Bernard, a Mi'kmaq elder, confirmed Tuesday that ground-penetrating radar was used at the site in April and December of last year, but no graves or human remains were found. She said more investigation was planned.
Previous research by Fowler includes the successful mapping of burials associated with the 1873 sinking of the SS Atlantic and the identification of nearly 300 unmarked graves in the pre-deportation Acadian cemetery at Grand-Pre National Historic Site.
"Our hearts remain with the people of the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc (in British Columbia) as we all continue to grapple with the impacts of the residential school system on Indigenous people across Canada," Sack said. "The prospect of a similar discovery in our community is difficult to consider, but we must fully assess the site."
The school was opened by the Department of Indian Affairs in 1930. Students were taken in from all three Maritime provinces and the Restigouche reserve in Quebec.
The institution was operated by the Roman Catholic archdiocese of Halifax until 1956 and was the only school of its type in the Maritimes.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 4, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.