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The search for unmarked graves at the sites of former residential schools in Saskatchewan has led to what the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations is calling a “horrific and shocking discovery.”
The Cowessess First Nation is to host a virtual press conference Thursday to publicly announce the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves on the grounds of the former Marieval Indian Residential School.
According to a media release from the FSIN, the number of unmarked graves is “the most significantly substantial to date in Canada.”
The former Marieval Indian Residential School is located about 25 kilometres north of Broadview. The school operated from 1899 to 1997.
980 CJME is to carry Thursday’s media conference live starting at 9 a.m.
Premier Scott Moe issued a statement late Wednesday.
“Today, all of Saskatchewan mourns for those who were discovered buried in unmarked graves near the former Marieval Indian Residential School site,” Moe wrote. “I understand many were children, and it is heartbreaking to think that so many children lost their lives after being separated from their families, and away from the love and solace only a family can provide.
“I have spoken with Chief (Bobby) Cameron of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and Chief Cadmus Delorme to offer the full support of the provincial government as Cowessess deals with this tragic discovery. Sadly, other Saskatchewan First Nations will experience the same shock and despair as the search for graves continues across the province.”
Moe added the provincial government will continue to support the work First Nations are doing to find unmarked graves and provide closures for families.
The announcement to be made by the Cowessess First Nation comes about a month after the discovery of the remains of 215 children on the grounds of a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C.
More than 100 remains have also been located on the grounds of the Brandon Indian Residential School in Manitoba.
In 2018, 35 unmarked graves were found on the grounds of the former Muskowekwan school in Saskatchewan.
The Saskatchewan government is contributing $2 million to the FSIN’s search for unmarked graves in the province. The federal government announced Tuesday it was giving the FSIN $4.88 million for the project.