{"id":151101,"date":"2025-08-16T18:03:16","date_gmt":"2025-08-16T18:03:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/151101\/"},"modified":"2025-08-16T18:03:16","modified_gmt":"2025-08-16T18:03:16","slug":"first-nation-in-b-c-says-41-more-graves-found-by-penetrating-radar-at-school-sit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/151101\/","title":{"rendered":"First Nation in B.C. says 41 more graves found by penetrating radar at school sit"},"content":{"rendered":"

An 18-month investigation at a former residential school site in British Columbia\u2019s Sunshine Coast has found more evidence of children who disappeared there, the area\u2019s First Nation<\/a> says.<\/p>\n

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The shishalh First Nation in Sechelt, B.C., said in a release Friday that 41 \u201cadditional unmarked graves\u201d had been found as a result of a search with ground-penetrating radar in the area around the St. Augustine\u2019s Residential School site.<\/p>\n

It said the discovery brought the number of suspected graves at the site to 81, after initial findings that were announced in 2023.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday is a day of loss for our community and for our families,\u201d said Chief Lenora Joe in a video statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese findings and the areas scanned were all driven by the stories and the memories of our survivors, our elders and family members who have been carrying these truths and burdens with strength for many, many years.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The B.C. Legislature\u2019s flag would fly at half mast until sunset on Sunday, assembly staff said in a social media post after the First Nation\u2019s announcement.<\/p>\n

The post said this was \u201cto honour the shishalh Nation, and the survivors, families, and communities impacted by trauma and loss at the former Sechelt residential school.\u201d<\/p>\n

First Nations communities have tended to use careful language when announcing the findings of radar searches, ranging from anomalies and areas of interest to possible graves, but the shishalh statement said graves at St. Augustine\u2019s were \u201cidentified by archeologists.\u201d<\/p>\n

In April 2023, the nation announced the discovery of what it believed to be 40 unmarked grave sites on and around St. Augustine\u2019s. It said at the time that depending solely on ground-penetrating radar for data would be inaccurate and inconclusive, due to the site of St. Augustine\u2019s being in the middle of Sechelt and having been disturbed and developed.<\/p>\n

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On Friday, the shishalh Nation declined to offer anyone for an interview, saying it wanted space and privacy.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we release this news, we want to protect our people and put our community and other First Nations whose children are directly impacted and connected to this in the forefront,\u201d Joe said in a video statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are not taking ownership of this trauma, because that was done to us. But we are taking ownership of our healing, our message and our future.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The nation said children from its community as well as 53 other nations from as far away as Saskatchewan were at the residential school, and it had been working with them in the search for possible graves.<\/p>\n

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