By Cecilia Nasmith

Northumberland County Warden Bob Crate – who reads the Territorial Land Acknowledgment each month at county council meetings – has issued a statement on the confirmation of unmarked burial sites at a former Indian Residential School on the land of Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan.

“We are all once again grappling with the painful confirmation of unmarked burial sites at a former Indian Residential School, with the Cowessess First Nation announcing a preliminary finding of 751 unmarked graves at a cemetery near the former Marieval Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan. Long suspected and now known, this finding is one more instance of the many unmarked burial sites believed to be at former Indian Residential Schools across Canada.

“These confirmations continue to layer pain and suffering on top of generations of trauma, particularly for survivors of Residential Schools, and for families who have lived with the uncertain fates of children who never came home. Every burial site confirmed at a former Indian Residential School is another truth unearthed about the horrific policies and practices that formed the foundation of the Indian Residential School System, and of the institutional racism that is not only historic but persists today against Indigenous peoples in Canada.

“Survivors have long spoken of unmarked burial sites at Residential Schools across Canada, and this was further reinforced through Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. This is a truth of our colonial roots. As we reckon with this as Canadians, Northumberland County pledges to continue acknowledging these atrocities and to address the need for reconciliation with concrete actions.

“As the Cowessess First Nation proceeds with the difficult work of identifying remains and taking steps towards healing, Northumberland County will lower flags to half-mast at all of our buildings for 24 hours as a sign of commemoration, respect and sorrow.

“Northumberland County stands with the Cowessess First Nation, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, and with all Indigenous communities during this traumatic and emotional time.”