Williams Lake First Nation says it has found another 66 possible burials as part of a widening search for unmarked graves on the grounds of a former residential school
“Excavation is the only technique that will provide answers as to whether or not there are human remains present,” said Whitney Spearing, lead investigator for the British Columbia community’s search of nearly 800 hectares of land near the former St. Joseph’s Mission, which operated from 1891 until 1981.announced it had discovered
At a Wednesday news conference, she said that none of the new discoveries lie within a documented graveyard. Williams Lake First Nation Kukpi7 Willie Sellars said the community would be seeking more government funding to complete the rest of the search, which could include excavation and exhumation.“When we start talking about excavation and exhumation, there are a number of concerns that are raised considering the amount of nations that are impacted,” Mr. Sellars said.
“If they are going to start digging any of this stuff up without us, we would have to explore legal action,” Mr. Alphonse said. “As far as our nation goes, we would be open to excavation, but all nations would have to work together and be unified.” In a Twitter post on Wednesday, Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller mentioned only Williams Lake. “My heart goes out to the people of Williams Lake First Nation as they hear of this additional finding,” he wrote. “I have been in contact with Kukpi7 Willie Sellars to offer Canada’s continued support as the community navigates this very difficult time.”
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