The Star Blanket Cree Nation (SBCN) leadership announced over 2,000 anomalies at the former Qu’Appelle Indian Residential School located near Lebret, Saskatchewan, though they do not believe they are all unmarked graves.
“Our hearts are heavy today. This has been a very emotional journey for all of us on the team (and) our community,” said SBCN Chief Michael Starr.
“I acknowledge that this is not our fault what we’re doing here. We acknowledge that. We are just doing the necessary work what was brought here and what was given to us in terms of the land.”
The announcement was made on the morning of January 12, 2023, at the Wah-Pii-Moostoosis gym in Lebret with many people wearing the colour orange to honour residential school students.
Drummers started the event with an honour song as various Chiefs from the Treaty 4 territory and Federations of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) walked in the grand entry with Star Blanket Cree Nation Chief and Council.
FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron addressed the federal government saying piles of money was spent to build Indian residential schools to “commit horrific crimes” on the children but more needs to be done.
“(Minister Marc Miller), you can begin by working with Star Blanket and many other residential school sites to build healing and wellness centres (is) what we need on our First Nation communities,” said FSIN Chief Cameron.
The SBCN Director of Operations Sheldon Poitras who is part of the project team announced the number of anomalies. He braced everyone on news that human remains of a little child was discovered in October 2022.
Organizers say the anomalies could be anything from sticks, stones to remains. Further excavation will be needed, organizers say.
The project team hopes to confirm what is under the ground, potentially through core drilling.
They hope to begin the excavation work in spring to early summer as SBCN partnered with Axiom, an exploration company that uses an investigation technique capable of mapping interfaces in a cross-sectional format.
The Star Blanket Cree Nation IRS Ground Search Project Team includes Chief Starr, councillors Edgar Starr, Catherine Stonechild, Joanne Starr, Matthew Nokusis, Sonya Starr, Sheldon Poitras, Marcel Starr, Victor Starr, Ariane Starblanket, Gerald Wolfe, Sherrie Bellegarde, Cherish Francis and Kaleigh Starblanket.
The project team was invited to the Cowessess First Nation to hear their experience of the GPR findings and how to prepare for such news.
The Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line (1-866-925-4419) is available 24 hours a day for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of their residential school experience.
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