More than 160 undocumented and unmarked graves have been found near the former Indian residential school on Kuper Island, British Columbia, the Penelakut First Nation said.
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“On behalf of the Penelakut Tribe, Chief Joan Brown, Council and Elders, we invite you to join us in raising awareness about the Kuper Island Industrial School and in confirming the existence of more of 160 undocumented and unmarked graves on our lands and in the foreshore, ”the indigenous community said in a statement released Thursday.
“We understand that many of our brothers and sisters from neighboring communities attended Kuper Island Industrial School. We also recognize, with great sorrow and loss, that too many of them have not returned home, ”continued the Penelakut First Nation.
This is not the first discovery of anonymous burials in the province. In late May, the remains of more than 200 Indigenous children were discovered near a residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia. Over 180 other graves had also been located by the end of June near the former St. Eugene boarding school in Cranbrook.
More than 750 unidentified graves were also found on the site of another former Indian residential school in Saskatchewan.
The community of Penelakut has also announced the holding of a “Walk for Children” to be held on August 2 in Chemainus, on Vancouver Island, while several ceremonies will be organized on July 28 and August 4.
“We are at another time when we have to face the trauma caused by these acts of genocide. Each time we do it, it is possible to heal a little more, ”said the representatives of the First Nation.
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