The first phase of First Nation’s work related to the former McIntosh Residential School, just north of Vermilion Bay, is getting financial support.
The federal government is committing $157,281 to help Grassy Narrows conduct research, collect data and address the locations of potential burial sites.
The First Nation will work with the families who had children that attended the school in order to commemorate and memorialize their losses and the children’s final resting place.
Grassy Narrows leaders also intend to organize meetings for information sharing as well as provide wellness supports for survivors, their families, and community members.
Chief Randy Fobister says, “Grassy Narrows First Nation was early on entrusted with the care of the former McIntosh Residential School site by the Grand Council Treaty #3. We are proud to act in the role of trustees of this site that carries so much history for our people, and are conducting the important work of locating unmarked graves as part of our role as trustees.”
Fobister adds, “The stories of our members that attended McIntosh tell us that there are numerous unmarked gravesites there. The funding and assistance will ensure that the work to identify such gravesites can move forward as quickly as possible. Grassy Narrows’ intention is to carry out this work together with the federal government and other First Nation communities that share our history with McIntosh. Our intention is to listen to the wishes of our own members and those of other First Nation communities when conducting this work, including how to deal with unmarked graves that are located. The history of residential schools in Canada is a tragic one. It is important that Canadians never loose sight of what happened. Once this work is complete, we will take steps to commemorate and memorialize the children that died while attending McIntosh Residential School so that they will always be remembered. Our community will also follow traditional practices that include traditional ceremonies and long-term wakes to help our community to move on and finally put these children to rest.”
