Mayor Josh Morgan has ordered the Canadian flag outside London City Hall to be lowered after another possible 2,000 unmarked graves were discovered at the former site of a Saskatchewan residential school.
Leaders from Star Blanket Cree Nation announced the discovery on Thursday, saying human remains were found after a ground-penetrating search of what used to be Qu’Appelle Indian Residential School near Lebret, Saskatchewan. The ground search leader said a jawbone fragment was discovered near the site in October 2022. The remains were determined to be around 125-years-old and belonged to a child between the ages of four and six.
Over 2,000 other “anomalies” were also detected, which could end up being sticks, stones, or human remains. Further investigation will identify what exactly is buried beneath the surface.
Following the announcement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement to members of Star Blanket Cree Nation:
I’m so saddened and disturbed by the findings of a child’s remains and potential unmarked graves at the former Lebret residential school. To members of Star Blanket Cree Nation: We’re thinking of you. We’ll be there every step of the way. https://t.co/KU8qFKVSIp
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 13, 2023
The potential gravesites near Lebret are the latest in a string of similar discoveries at former residential schools in Canada.
For London, the Canadian flag will fly at half-staff for the next three days.
“Londoners grieve with members of the Star Blanket Cree Nation, and neighbouring Indigenous communities,” Morgan wrote. “We are committed to difficult conversations and necessary actions along the path of Truth & Reconciliation.”
