Mass Graves Revealed of Indian Children in Canadian Schools By Brenda
Norrell
April 18, 2008

The horror of the genocide in Canada's Indian Residential Schools became
public, as the locations of 28 mass graves of Indian children were revealed.
An unknown number of Indian children died in captivity at Indian
Residential Schools in Canada.
The murders included children killed in electric chairs. Some of the
bodies were incinerated in the school furnaces, while others were buried
in mass graves.
Eyewitness Sylvester Greene described how he helped bury a young Inuit
boy at the United Church's Edmonton residential school in 1953.
"We were told never to tell anyone by Jim Ludford, the Principal, who
got me and three other boys to bury him. But a lot more kids got buried
all the time in that big grave next to the school."


The location of mass graves of residential school children was revealed
by the Independent Tribunal Established Squamish Nation Territory
("Vancouver, Canada") on April 10.
At a public ceremony and press conference held outside the colonial
"Indian Affairs" building in downtown Vancouver, the Friends and
Relatives of the Disappeared (FRD) released a list of twenty eight mass
graves across Canada holding the remains of untold numbers of aboriginal
children who died in Indian Residential Schools.
The list was distributed to the world media and to United Nations
agencies, as the first act of the newly-formed International Human
Rights Tribunal into Genocide in Canada (IHRTGC), a non-governmental
body established by indigenous elders.
In a statement read by FRD spokesperson Eagle Strong Voice, it was
declared that the IHRTGC would commence its investigations on April 15,
2008, the fourth Annual Aboriginal Holocaust Memorial Day. This inquiry
will involve international human rights observers from Guatemala and
Cyprus, and will convene aboriginal courts of justice where those
persons and institutions responsible for the death and suffering of
residential school children will be tried and sentenced. (The complete
Statement and List of Mass Graves is reproduced below).
Eagle Strong Voice and IHRTGC elders will present the Mass Graves List
at the United Nations on April 19, and will ask United Nations agencies
to protect and monitor the mass graves as part of a genuine inquiry and
judicial prosecution of those responsible for this Canadian Genocide.
For more information: http://www.hiddenfr omhistory. org/, or write to
the IHRTGC at: genocidetribunal@ yahoo.ca Issued on Squamish Territory,
10 April, 2008, under the authority of Hereditary Chief Kiapilano
Press Statement:
Mass Graves of Residential School Children Identified â?? Independent
Inquiry Launched
We are gathered today to publicly disclose the location of twenty eight
mass graves of children who died in Indian Residential Schools across
Canada, and to announce the formation of an independent,
non-governmental inquiry into the death and disappearance of children in
these schools.
We estimate that there are hundreds, and possibly thousands, of children
buried in these grave sites alone. The Catholic, Anglican and United
Church, and the government of Canada, operated the schools and hospitals
where these mass graves are located. We therefore hold these
institutions and their officers legally responsible and liable for the
deaths of these children.
We have no confidence that the very institutions of church and state
that are responsible for these deaths can conduct any kind of impartial
or real inquiry into them. Accordingly, as of April 15, 2008, we are
establishing an independent, non governmental inquiry into the death and
disappearance of Indian residential school children across Canada.
This inquiry shall be known as The International Human Rights Tribunal
into Genocide in Canada (IHRTGC), and is established under the authority
of the following hereditary chiefs, who shall serve as presiding judges
of the Tribunal:Hereditary Chief Kiapilano of the Squamish Nation Chief
Louis Daniels (Whispers Wind), Anishinabe Nation Chief Svnoyi Wohali
(Night Eagle), Cherokee Nation Lillian Shirt, Clan Mother, Cree Nation
Elder Ernie Sandy, Anishinabe (Ojibway) Nation Hereditary Chief Steve
Sampson, Chemainus Nation Ambassador Chief Red Jacket of Turtle Island
Today, we are releasing to this Tribunal and to the people of the world
the enclosed information on the location of mass graves connected to
Indian residential schools and hospitals in order to prevent the
destruction of this crucial evidence by the Canadian government, the
RCMP and the Anglican, Catholic and United Church of Canada.We call upon
indigenous people on the land where these graves are located to monitor
and protect these sites vigilantly, and prevent their destruction by
occupational forces such as the RCMP and other government agencies.Our
Tribunal will commence on April 15 by gathering all of the evidence,
including forensic remains, that is necessary to charge and indict those
responsible for the deaths of the children buried therein.Once these
persons have been identified and detained, they will be tried and
sentenced in indigenous courts of justice established by our Tribunal
and under the authority of hereditary chiefs.
As a first step in this process, the IHRTGC will present this list of
mass graves along with a statement to the United Nations in New York
City on April 19, 2008. The IHRTGC will be asking the United Nations to
declare these mass graves to be protected heritage sites, and will
invite international human rights observers to monitor and assist its work.
Issued by the Elders and Judges of the IHRTGC Interim Spokesperson:
Eagle Strong Voice Email: genocidetribunal@ yahoo.ca pager: 1-888-265-1007
IHRTGC Sponsors include The Friends and Relatives of the Disappeared,
The Truth Commission into Genocide in Canada, the Defensoria Indigenia
of Guatemala, Canadians for the Separation of Church and State, and a
confederation of indigenous elders across Canada and Turtle Island
Locations of Mass Graves at former Indian Residential Schools and
Hospitals across Canada
A. British Columbia
1. Port Alberni: Presbyterian- United Church school (1895-1973), now
occupied by the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council (NTC) office, Kitskuksis
Road. Grave site is a series of sinkhole rows in hills 100 metres due
west of the NTC building, in thick foliage, past an unused water
pipeline. Children also interred at Tseshaht reserve cemetery, and in
wooded gully east of Catholic cemetery on River Road.
Alert Bay: St. Michaelâ??s Anglican school (1878-1975), situated on
Cormorant Island offshore from Port McNeill. Presently building is used
by Namgis First Nation. Site is an overgrown field adjacent to the
building, and also under the foundations of the present new building,
constructed during the 1960â??s. Skeletons seen â??between the wallsâ?�.
Kuper Island: Catholic school (1890-1975), offshore from Chemainus. Land
occupied by Penelakut Band. Former building is destroyed except for a
staircase. Two grave sites: one immediately south of the former
building, in a field containing a conventional cemetery; another at the
west shoreline in a lagoon near the main dock.
Nanaimo Indian Hospital: Indian Affairs and United Church experimental
facility (1942-1970) on Department of National Defense land. Buildings
now destroyed. Grave sites are immediately east of former buildings on
Fifth avenue, adjacent to and south of Malaspina College.
Mission: St. Maryâ??s Catholic school (1861-1984), adjacent to and north
of Lougheed Highway and Fraser River Heritage Park. Original school
buildings are destroyed, but many foundations are visible on the grounds
of the Park.In this area there are two grave sites: a) immediately
adjacent to former girlsâ?? dormitory and present cemetery for priests,
and a larger mass grave in an artificial earthen mound, north of the
cemetery among overgrown foliage and blackberry bushes, and b) east of
the old school grounds, on the hilly slopes next to the field leading to
the newer school building which is presently used by the Sto:lo First
Nation. Hill site is 150 metres west of building.
North Vancouver: Squamish (1898-1959) and Sechelt (1912-1975) Catholic
schools, buildings destroyed. Graves of children who died in these
schools interred in the Squamish Band Cemetery, North Vancouver.
Sardis: Coqualeetza Methodist-United Church school (1889-1940), then
experimental hospital run by federal government (1940-1969). Native
burial site next to Sto:lo reserve and Little Mountain school, also
possibly adjacent to former school-hospital building.
Cranbrook: St. Eugene Catholic school (1898-1970), recently converted
into a tourist â??resortâ?� with federal funding, resulting in the
covering-over of a mass burial site by a golf course in front of the
building. Numerous grave sites are around and under this golf course.9.
Williams Lake: Catholic school (1890-1981), buildings destroyed but
foundations intact, five miles south of city. Grave sites reported north
of school grounds and under foundations of tunnel-like structure.10.
Meares Island (Tofino): Kakawis-Christie Catholic school (1898-1974).
Buildings incorporated into Kakawis Healing Centre. Body storage room
reported in basement, adjacent to burial grounds south of school.11.
Kamloops: Catholic school (1890-1978). Buildings intact. Mass grave
south of school, adjacent to and amidst orchard. Numerous burials
witnessed there.
Lytton: St. Georgeâ??s Anglican school (1901-1979). Graves of students
flogged to death, and others, reported under floorboards and next to
playground.
Fraser Lake: Lejac Catholic school (1910-1976), buildings destroyed.
Graves reported under old foundations and between the walls.

Alberta:1. Edmonton: United Church school (1919-1960), presently site of
the Poundmaker Lodge in St. Albert. Graves of children reported south of
former school site, under thick hedge that runs north-south, adjacent to
memorial marker.2. Edmonton: Charles Camsell Hospital (1945-1967),
building intact, experimental hospital run by Indian Affairs and United
Church. Mass graves of children from hospital reported south of
building, near staff garden.3. Saddle Lake: Bluequills Catholic school
(1898-1970), building intact, skeletons and skulls observed in basement
furnace. Mass grave reported adjacent to school.4. Hobbema: Ermineskin
Catholic school (1916-1973), five intact skeletons observed in school
furnace. Graves under former building foundations. Manitoba: 1. Brandon:
Methodist-United Church school (1895-1972). Building intact. Burials
reported west of school building.2. Portage La Prairie: Presbyterian-
United Church school (1895-1950). Children buried at nearby Hillside
Cemetery. 3. Norway House: Methodist-United Church school
(1900-1974). â??Very oldâ?� grave site next to former school building,
demolished by United Church in 2004. Ontario:1. Thunder Bay: Lakehead
Psychiatric Hospital, still in operation. Experimental centre. Women and
children reported buried adjacent to hospital grounds.2. Sioux Lookout:
Pelican Lake Catholic school (1911-1973). Burials of children in mound
near to school.3. Kenora: Cecilia Jeffrey school, Presbyterian- United
Church (1900-1966). Large burial mound east of former school.4. Fort
Albany: St. Anneâ??s Catholic school (1936-1964). Children killed in
electric chair buried next to school. 5. Spanish: Catholic school
(1883-1965). Numerous graves.6. Brantford: Mohawk Institute, Anglican
church (1850-1969), building intact. Series of graves in orchard behind
school building, under rows of trees.7. Sault Ste. Marie: Shingwauk
Anglican school (1873-1969), some intact buildings. Several graves of
children reported
on grounds of old school.Quebec: 1. Montreal: Allan Memorial Institute,
McGill University, still in operation since opening in 1940. MKULTRA
experimental centre. Mass grave of children killed there north of
building, on southern slopes of Mount Royal behind stone wall.
Sources:- Eyewitness accounts from survivors of these institutions,
catalogued in Hidden from History: The Canadian Holocaust (2nd ed.,
2005) by Kevin Annett. Other accounts are from local residents. See
http://www.hiddenfr omhistory. org/ - Documents and other material from
the Department of Indian Affairs RG 10 microfilm series on Indian
Residential Schools in Koerner Library, University of B.C.- Survey data
and physical evidence obtained from grave sites in Port Alberni,
Mission, and other locations.This is a partial list and does not include
all of the grave sites connected to Indian residential Schools and
hospitals across Canada. In many cases, children who were dying of
diseases were sent home to die by school and church officials, and the
remains of other children who died at the school were incinerated in the
residential school furnaces.
This information is submitted by The Friends and Relatives of the
Disappeared (FRD) to the world media, the United Nations, and to the
International Human Rights Tribunal into Genocide in Canada (IHRTGC).
The IHRTGC will commence its investigations on April 15, 2008 on
Squamish Nation territory.
For more information on the independent inquiry into genocide in Canada
being conducted by the IHRTGC, write to: genocidetribunal@ yahoo.ca 10
April, 2008 Squamish Nation Territory (â?? Vancouver, Canada â?�)

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