Feds, province agree to help fund search for unmarked graves at former Ont. residential school site
Garden River First Nation has secured funding from the federal and provincial governments to help with the search for unmarked graves at former residential school sites near Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
The First Nation said Monday the three-year funding commitment will help it establish internal protocols for the search, which will help its own residents dealing with generational trauma.
Garden River opened talks with the federal government last year, coinciding with the search for unmarked graves at the former Shingwauk Residential School site.
That search is being conducted by the Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association.
Chief Andy Rickard said he wanted to go above and beyond to help his people, by setting up internal protocols.
"One of the things I wanted to do was approach the feds and find out if there was any resources there to do some of the internal work within our own community, in terms of trauma, healing, all that kind of stuff and then obviously looking at the grounds of those areas," Rickard said.
He said the federal government brought in the province to help with further resources and both levels of government committed to a three-year funding deal.
"We acknowledge those contributions and I think that's part of reconciliation, being able to assist communities that are looking to do this kind of work, especially that kind of healing work within our communities," Rickard said.
The Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association said it has wanted the First Nation to co-lead in the search it started at the Shingwauk site last year. But search director Jay Jones said the funding announcement is a surprise.
"We've reached out to them repeatedly, both I have, Irene Barbeau our president, has reached out to them and they have not returned our emails, or inquiries or anything," Jones said.
The First Nation said details are still in the preliminary stages regarding exactly what it will be doing with the funds. It could include conducting its own search for unmarked graves.
But Jones said working together will be more productive.
"Being the Shingwauk Education Trust, being the overseer of this site, they have a right to do it, they have a right to lead this, but we also have a right to help lead this project," he said.
Garden River said it couldn't confirm an official dollar figure for how much it will receive.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.