Chief Michael Starr speaks at the news conference at Star Blanket Cree Nation on Jan. 12, 2022. (Screengrab From Facebook/Star Blanket Cree Nation)

By Chris Brown

Star Blanket Cree Nation finds more than 2,000 ground anomalies at site of former residential school

Jan 12, 2023 | 11:16 AM

More unmarked graves and burial sites have potentially been found at the site of a former residential school in Saskatchewan.

Star Blanket Cree Nation says there were more 2,000 anomalies found during ground-penetrating radar searches, however, leadership doesn’t believe they are all unmarked graves.

Project lead Sheldon Poitras says the plan is now to determine what the hits are in the near future, including through use of DNA testing.

A jaw bone fragment that has been identified to be of a child from about 125 years ago was also discovered, and Poitras says it’s believed to be physical proof of an unmarked grave.

The former Qu’Appelle Indian Residential School is located near Lebret, Sask., about 75 kilometres northeast of Regina.

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Chief Michael Starr was joined by members of the community to make the announcement Thursday. He started off the announcement by saying “our hearts are heavy today.”

Ground-penetrating radar searches were done on the site and the reserve, informed by consultations with elders and stories from the past.

Star Blanket Cree Nation was one of many Indigenous groups in Canada that began searching former residential school sites after more than 200 potential unmarked burial sites were discovered in May 2021 near the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.

The school was one of the last ones operating in Saskatchewan, closing in 1998. The Qu’Appelle Indian Residential School took over administration from the federal government in 1973. It was run by the Roman Catholic Church from 1884 to 1973.

Star Blanket Cree Nation provided the following numbers for anyone who needs support.

National Indian Residential School Crisis Line (24 hours) – 1-866-925-4419
White Raven Healing Centre – 306-332-2608
Mental Health Support – 811
Suicide Hotline -1-833-456-4566

–with files from Dan Reynish