B.C. First Nation to search for children who didn’t come home from Alert Bay residential school

By Staff The Canadian Press

Posted February 17, 2022 

 

Dried flowers rest inside a pair of child's running shoes at a memorial for the 215 children whose remains were found at the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School at Tk’emlups te Secwépemc First Nation in Kamloops, B.C., on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, June 4, 2021. A British Columbia First Nation located off coast of northeastern Vancouver Island says it has started an investigation into the grounds of a former residential institution, following similar inquiries by a number of nations across the country. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang. JDT/

Warning: This story deals with disturbing subject matter that may upset and trigger some readers. Discretion is advised.

A British Columbia First Nation located off the coast of northeastern Vancouver Island says it has started an investigation on the grounds of a former residential school, looking for the remains of children who didn’t return home.

A statement from ‘Namgis First Nation, located near Alert Bay on Cormorant Island, says its investigation into the former St. Michael’s Indian Residential School will happen in phases, starting with hiring a project manager to help the nation access funding and plan how to engage survivors.

It says survivors from 45 different nations will be invited to take part to help guide the examination of the grounds at the institution that first opened as a day school in 1878 and closed as a residential building in 1974.

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