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Global News
3 hours ago
- Global News
First Nation in B.C. says 41 more graves found by penetrating radar at school sit
An 18-month investigation at a former residential school site in British Columbia's Sunshine Coast has found more evidence of children who disappeared there, the area's First Nation says. The shishalh First Nation in Sechelt, B.C., said in a release Friday that 41 'additional unmarked graves' had been found as a result of a search with ground-penetrating radar in the area around the St. Augustine's Residential School site. It said the discovery brought the number of suspected graves at the site to 81, after initial findings that were announced in 2023. 'Today is a day of loss for our community and for our families,' said Chief Lenora Joe in a video statement. 'These findings and the areas scanned were all driven by the stories and the memories of our survivors, our elders and family members who have been carrying these truths and burdens with strength for many, many years.' Story continues below advertisement The B.C. Legislature's flag would fly at half mast until sunset on Sunday, assembly staff said in a social media post after the First Nation's announcement. The post said this was 'to honour the shishalh Nation, and the survivors, families, and communities impacted by trauma and loss at the former Sechelt residential school.' First Nations communities have tended to use careful language when announcing the findings of radar searches, ranging from anomalies and areas of interest to possible graves, but the shishalh statement said graves at St. Augustine's were 'identified by archeologists.' In April 2023, the nation announced the discovery of what it believed to be 40 unmarked grave sites on and around St. Augustine's. It said at the time that depending solely on ground-penetrating radar for data would be inaccurate and inconclusive, due to the site of St. Augustine's being in the middle of Sechelt and having been disturbed and developed. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy On Friday, the shishalh Nation declined to offer anyone for an interview, saying it wanted space and privacy. 'As we release this news, we want to protect our people and put our community and other First Nations whose children are directly impacted and connected to this in the forefront,' Joe said in a video statement. 'We are not taking ownership of this trauma, because that was done to us. But we are taking ownership of our healing, our message and our future.' Story continues below advertisement The nation said children from its community as well as 53 other nations from as far away as Saskatchewan were at the residential school, and it had been working with them in the search for possible graves. This is the latest in a series of statements from First Nations around the province after the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc First Nation in Kamloops announced the detection of more than 200 potential unmarked graves by ground-penetrating radar in May 2021. Joe said her nation is 'deeply saddened' by the latest discoveries, but the results of ground-penetrating radar scans weren't surprising to community members. 'We have always believed our elders. This wasn't a school, it wasn't a choice, and the children who attended were stolen,' Joe said. 'We didn't need the (ground-penetrating radar) to prove this happened; we always had enough proof to know.' The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation at the University of Manitoba says St. Augustine's, in Sechelt, B.C., operated between 1904 and 1975 under Roman Catholic administration with federal funding from 1905 onward. The first school building burned down in 1917, and a newer structure was opened in 1922 before being destroyed by another fire in October 1975, just months after it had been closed. The centre said parents had protested issues ranging from the quality of education to poor diet and harsh discipline at the school in 1923, withdrawing their children from the facility. Story continues below advertisement Joe said in her statement that survivor accounts reported children allegedly being taken by staff into nearby forests at night and not returning. 'Survivors have carried these horrors, and the disappearances of their siblings, cousins, and peers, in addition to their own experiences,' Joe said. The Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program has a hotline to help residential school survivors and their relatives suffering with trauma invoked by the recall of past abuse. The number is 1-866-925-4419.
Winnipeg Free Press
16-07-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
B.C. First Nation says plan to move Tex the grizzly was underway before it was killed
TEXADA ISLAND, BRITISH COLUMBIA – A First Nation on British Columbia's Sunshine Coast says it is 'deeply saddened' by the shooting death of a grizzly bear on Texada Island this week. The Tla'amin First Nation says in a statement that it was working on a co-ordinated relocation effort for the bear with two other area nations before the bear, nicknamed Tex, was 'illegally shot, maimed and killed.' It says it held a ceremony on Tuesday to honour the spirit of Tex after taking custody of his remains. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service says it received a report from the RCMP on Tuesday that someone had shot and wounded the bear and it later reported finding the bear dead. The service said last month that the bear was not a good candidate for relocation because it had already been moved from other Sunshine Coast communities and had stalked people and harassed livestock. The nation's statement says their relocation plan had already been approved by conservation officials and it involved setting traps to safely move Tex to a remote area at the head of Bute Inlet, on the mainland about 100 kilometres northeast of Texada. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 16, 2025.
CTV News
13-07-2025
- CTV News
Sask. RCMP investigate sudden death in RM of Beaver River
Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes is investigating a sudden death at a rural property in the Rural Municipality (RM) of Beaver River, about 350 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon. On July 11, at around 1:30 p.m., Pierceland RCMP received a report of a sudden death after local firefighters responded to a structure fire on the property, RCMP said in a news release. Upon arrival, they found a deceased adult female, later identified as 25-year-old Juanita Wahpistikwan from Big Island Lake Cree Nation. Her family has been notified. RCMP say they're working to determine the circumstances surrounding Wahpistikwan's death. They are seeking information from anyone who had contact with her on July 10 and 11. If you saw or spoke with Wahpistikwan during that time or have any information about her death, police ask you to contact major crimes at 310-RCMP. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Sask. RCMP say updates will be provided when possible and if an imminent risk to public safety is identified, they will notify the public.
