(Red Deer & District Archives-DA971)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

REPORT COULD TAKE 3 MONTHS

Ground-penetrating radar work begins at former Red Deer industrial school site

Oct 25, 2021 | 4:59 PM

Ground-penetrating radar work has begun at the site of the former Red Deer Industrial School.

rdnewsNOW has learned that work started on Monday, Oct. 18.

The efforts being made there are part of a larger collaboration across Alberta agreed upon by nine First Nations groups.

They include:

• Ermineskin Cree Nation
• Louis Bull Tribe
• Métis Nation of Alberta
• Montana First Nation
• Paul First Nation
• Saddle Lake Cree Nation
• Samson Cree Nation
• Stoney Nakoda First Nations
  • Bearspaw First Nation
  • Chiniki First Nation
  • Wesley First Nation
• Whitefish (Goodfish) Lake First Nation #128

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Each of the nine has received $30,000 from the provincial government following a funding commitment earlier this year through the Heritage Preservation Partnership Program.

Much of it is also being done in partnership with the Institute of Prairie and Indigenous Archaeology (IPIA) at the University of Alberta, and led by Dr. Kisha Supernant.

The Red Deer Indian Industrial School, as it was known, operated from 1893 to 1919, with an estimated 350 kids attending over the years.

This is not the first investigation to occur at its graveyard. In 2008, 19 possible graves were found, though the total number to be found could be much higher.

“This is definitely a weight off,” says Lyle Keewatin Richards, founder of Red Deer-based Remembering the Children Society. “This is what we’ve been working toward for the last 34 years, to see everyone out there doing what needs to be done.”

Richards was part of a group that attended the site last Monday to participate in ceremony as the work occurred.

He’s previously told rdnewsNOW that Red Deer’s ‘school’ was known for having one of the highest death rates among all the industrial or residential ‘schools’ across Canada — which totalled approximately 140.

“Our hearts go out to the families and communities impacted by the heartbreaking discovery of unmarked gravesites across the country,” says Adrienne South, press secretary for Rick Wilson, Minister of Indigenous Relations.

“Finding these resting places and respectfully honouring burial sites is a delicate and heart-wrenching matter. It is another step in addressing the painful legacy of residential schools and helping families find closure.”

Whether a final report on the findings becomes public will be up to the Indigenous communities involved.

According to the IPIA, a report could take up to three months.

rdnewsNOW has reached out to several local First Nations.