Search underway in Fort Albany First Nation for unmarked graves

A search of the former St. Anne’s Residential School grounds in Fort Albany First Nation is underway.

Community leaders said elders and residential school survivors are certain that unmarked graves exist. Ground-penetrating radar is being used to find remains.

Fort Albany First Nation is using ground-penetrating radar to help its investigation of six locations believed to have the remains of missing and or murdered residential school victims. (Submitted photo by Deputy Chief Terry Metatawbin, Fort Albany First Nation)

"We had residential school survivors run away from these schools and one of the investigations that we found was murdered and are buried very, very close to these schools," said deputy chief Terry Metatawabin.

Metatawabin said survivors talk about lost siblings and other children who never returned home from the school.

"I have a document within my office here that is a very serious RCMP investigation that happened regarding lost children under the care of the church," Metatawabin said.

"These unsolved mysteries are still fresh in the families … there was no formal follow-up or investigation and there (were) no charges …. no repercussions. "

Two years ago, the First Nation announced it would begin the difficult journey of searching for truth when it learned of 215 unmarked graves found at the residential school in Kamloops, B.C.

Metatawabin said it’s time for justice in Fort Albany First Nation.

"We're looking under every tree and every branch," he said

"This will take a couple of years to investigate, but we are actually starting (with) six high priority areas, six that are very, very testimonial true and we feel very, very close to coming across this evidence that they've been telling the truth and I can assure you for sure that we're going to embark on a very powerful announcement in the very near future."

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Mushkegowuk Council leaders offered their support to the First Nation.

"It would affect the whole community … providing them mental-health support, emotional support and whatever they ask for from us," said Acting Grand Chief Natasha Martin of Mushkegowuk Council.

Martin said while the focus now is on Fort Albany, she said this is an issue that touches the hearts of all Omushkego people as some children who attended St. Anne’s Residential School were from other communities in the area.