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Global News
3 days 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.
New Indian Express
03-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
CM Revanth Reddy for measures to enhance Inter education system
HYDERABAD: Observing that a large number of students have been clearing the Class 10 exams with flying colours but are not able to replicate their success in the Intermediate exams, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday instructed officials to initiate measures to achieve a good pass percentage in Inter too. During a review meeting on the Education department held at the Integrated Command Control Centre here, the CM asked the officials to identify the challenges and come up with initiatives to overcome them. Noting that Intermediate is a crucial stage in students' lives, Revanth stressed that proper guidance should be given to them during this phase. He instructed the officials to conduct a comprehensive study on running schools up to Class 12 and submit a report at the earliest. He suggested that the officials seek advice from the Education Commission, NGOs working in the education sector and civil society. 'We will discuss the improvement of Intermediate education at all stages in the Legislative Assembly,' he said, adding that more attention should be paid to the enrolment of students in Intermediate courses and also on their attendance. Separate Young India schools for boys, girls in each segment Reviewing the designs of the Young India Residential School buildings, the CM suggested that a huge national flag be installed on the premises of every school. He also instructed the officials to submit a weekly report to him on the progress of the construction of these schools. The CM also said that separate Young India Residential Schools will be constructed for boys and girls in every Assembly constituency. Since land acquisition for one school in each Assembly segment has already been completed, the CM directed the officials to focus on identifying and acquiring land for the second one in these constituencies. Revanth also reviewed the model of Veeranari Chakali Ilamma Women's University building and suggested several changes to it. He instructed the officials to complete the tender process at the earliest.
Hans India
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
CM flags concern over students getting flunked in Inter exams
Hyderabad: Expressing concern over increasing gap between Class 10th and Intermediate pass percentage, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has instructed the officials to take steps that every Class 10th student who joins intermediate must be passed. The Chief Minister pointed out that the students in 10th standard are passing in large numbers. However, the same number of students could not pass out in Intermediate. He ordered the officials to identify the challenges to achieve a good pass percentage of inter students and resolve them through initiatives. At a review of the Education department here on Wednesday, the CM said that since the intermediate stage is crucial for the students to make their career, proper guidance should be given to the students during the period. Officials briefed the CM that dropouts are less in some states where 9th to 12th standard education system is implemented. The Chief Minister instructed the officials to conduct a study and submit a comprehensive report on running the schools up to 12th standard and separate intermediate. Revanth Reddy suggested to the officials to seek the advice of the Education Commission, NGOs working in the education sector, and civil society. 'We will discuss the improvement of intermediate education at all stages in the Legislative Assembly', the Chief Minister said, adding that more attention should be paid to the enrolment of students in intermediate as well as their attendance. Reviewing the designs and models of the Young India Residential School buildings, the CM suggested that a huge national flag be installed in the premises of every school and also instructed the officials to submit a weekly report to him on the progress of the construction of the schools. The Young India Residential Schools will be constructed exclusively for boys and girls in every Assembly constituency. Since the land acquisition for each school has already been completed, the CM directed that the focus should be on the identification and acquisition process for the second school. Revanth Reddy also reviewed the construction model of Veeranari Chakali Ilamma Mahila Vishwa Vidyalayam (Women's University) and suggested several changes. The CM ordered that the tender process be completed at the earliest.
