Suspected Grave Sites, Children's Deaths Found In Probe Of B.C. Residential School

The Tseshaht First Nation has announced the finding of 17 suspected unmarked graves at the site of the former Alberni Indian Residential School.

The Tseshaht First Nation, which took the lead in an 18-month effort to find potential graves of schoolchildren at the former Alberni Indian Residential School, also said interviews with survivors, historical records and other documents show 67 students died at the school.

"We need to remember that all of these students were just children," said Tseshaht Elected Chief Councillor Wahmeesh, whose English name is Ken Watts.

"They were just children. So … for those of you that are not from our communities, I want you to think about that, think about what would happen today if children who were five years old were removed from their homes.

"That's the reality that our communities have to live with," said Wahmeesh, who wore a traditional cedar headband.

Children from at least 70 Indigenous communities around B-C attended the institution from 1900 to 1973.