Ground search begins at former Ont. residential school
The search for unmarked graves is underway Tuesday on land associated with the former Mohawk Institute Residential School in Brantford, Ont.
Two ground-penetrating radar machines will be used for grid searches, according to a Tuesday morning press release from officials leading the search.
"We have finally made it to this day, where we are ready to begin the search," Six Nations Chief Mark Hill said at a press conference on Tuesday. "Survivors have been telling us for years with stories of what happened to them in the so-called schools."
Community members, survivors, and members of Six Nations Police Service have been trained on these machines and will work in pairs to search the more than 200 hectares of land, according to the search task force.
“This is heavy work that needs to be done,” said survivor Sherlene Bomberry in the release. “As survivors we take comfort in knowing that this sacred work is being done in a good way with our community members, participation. We have been clear that the search must be survivor-led and community-involved.”
Community members will partner with members of Six Nations police to perform the search.
"I cannot stress enough the importance of listening to survivors and hearing their truths that they have to share about the children that were here one day and then gone the next, never to be seen again," said Kimberly Murray, the executive lead of the Survivors' Secretariat. "Those who are here and are here with us today, they are our witnesses."
The Mohawk Institute Residential School is considered to be Canada’s longest-running residential school. It opened in 1828 and closed in 1971.
Murray said the search is expected to last all week, with any information uploaded to a secure server every day.
The search will be monitored by various groups, including Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe Cultural Monitors, as well as the Survivors’ Secretariat’s Indigenous human rights monitor, Beverly Jacobs.
Hill said he understands the coming months will be very difficult for community members.
"Our focus now is on preparing our community for the potential findings of the search and providing adequate mental health and crisis support for those who may need it," he said.
Murray said they will engage with community members over the coming months to develop protocols for when remains are found.
CRISIS SUPPORTS
Six Nations 24/7 Mobile Crisis Line: 519-445-2204 or 1-866-445-2204
Six Nations Mental Health and Addictions: 519-445-2143 (Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm)
National Indian Residential School Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.