The Star Blanket Cree Nation in Saskatchewan says ground penetrating radar has uncovered more than 2,000 areas of interest at the site of one of the country's oldest residential schools.
Project leader Sheldon Poitras reported that his team is pursuing options, including DNA testing, to confirm what is there, but says they don't believe they are all unmarked graves.
A jaw bone fragment was also discovered that was identified as that of a child from about 125 years ago, and Poitras says it is believed to be physical evidence that these are unmarked graves.
The search areas were selected after testimonies from former students and elders who witnessed or heard stories of what happened at the school.
The school was one of the first three residential schools to open in Canada and was run by the Roman Catholic Church from 1884 to 1973.
It operated for another 25 years until it closed in 1998.
An estimated 150,000 indigenous children were forced to attend residential schools for more than a century in Canada and reports have detailed that many experienced emotional, physical, sexual and spiritual abuse.
Comments