The total number of student deaths, according to documents received so far, is 97. The National Center for Truth and Reconciliation lists only 48 deaths, while earlier updates from the secretariat said there were 54 deaths. “Impact and Legacy [of residential schools] it’s felt far beyond the boundaries of communities,” Laura Arndt, the new executive director of the Survivors’ Secretariat, told community members at an invitation-only event Wednesday. Sherlene Bomberry, a school survivor and member of the secretariat, said the new documents came about through a partnership with Know History, a professional historical research firm. The 97 students include people who died of illness or injury and those who left and died elsewhere, according to Know History researcher Beth Sollis. The Mohawk Institute, one of the oldest and longest-running residential schools in Canada, opened in 1828 and closed in 1970. About 15,000 students from 20 First Nation communities attended the school, many of whom were abused. Sollis did not say when the deaths may have occurred. “We have also identified 16 children [who died and] whose names are not known and we are working to locate others where the location of their grave is not known,” he said.
Over 12,000 records found
Bomberi said the secretariat is cross-checking names to ensure there are no duplicates. He also said the group is working on a protocol to notify families and communities of newly disclosed deaths before posting them online. Know History and the registry worked together for nine months, which Sollis said resulted in 4,581 names of children who attended the institute and 725 names of people who worked at the Institute in some capacity. Sollis said the team has found more than 12,000 records related to the institute at 23 institutions. Over 6,700 of these have been audited and recorded. Laura Arndt is the executive director of the Survivors’ Secretariat. (Survivors Secretariat/Facebook) The search at the site where the Woodland Cultural Center now stands began in November after a preliminary survey by the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation in Kamloops, BC, last May identified about 200 possible graves. The secretariat has secured $10.2 million from the federal government over three years and $1.3 million from the provincial government — both amounts well below what the secretariat requested and representing only about a third of the money the team says it is needed for the quest. The ground survey will take years to complete. About 1.5 percent of the approximately 243 hectares has been surveyed to date. Bomberry said the City of Brantford provided lidar scans of the sites to help, which allowed the secretariat to work with geophysicists who can help interpret the data. Support is available for anyone affected by their residential school experience and for those challenged by these reports. A national residential school crisis line of India has been set up to provide support to school survivors and others affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866-925-4419.
title: “New Documents Reveal 43 More Deaths At Former Mohawk Institute Survivor Led Group Says Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-09” author: “Steve Sagredo”
The total number of student deaths, according to documents received so far, is 97. The National Center for Truth and Reconciliation lists only 48 deaths, while earlier updates from the secretariat said there were 54 deaths. “Impact and Legacy [of residential schools] it’s felt far beyond the boundaries of communities,” Laura Arndt, the new executive director of the Survivors’ Secretariat, told community members at an invitation-only event Wednesday. Sherlene Bomberry, a school survivor and member of the secretariat, said the new documents came about through a partnership with Know History, a professional historical research firm. The 97 students include people who died of illness or injury and those who left and died elsewhere, according to Know History researcher Beth Sollis. The Mohawk Institute, one of the oldest and longest-running residential schools in Canada, opened in 1828 and closed in 1970. About 15,000 students from 20 First Nation communities attended the school, many of whom were abused. Sollis did not say when the deaths may have occurred. “We have also identified 16 children [who died and] whose names are not known and we are working to locate others where the location of their grave is not known,” he said.
Over 12,000 records found
Bomberi said the secretariat is cross-checking names to ensure there are no duplicates. He also said the group is working on a protocol to notify families and communities of newly disclosed deaths before posting them online. Know History and the registry worked together for nine months, which Sollis said resulted in 4,581 names of children who attended the institute and 725 names of people who worked at the Institute in some capacity. Sollis said the team has found more than 12,000 records related to the institute at 23 institutions. Over 6,700 of these have been audited and recorded. Laura Arndt is the executive director of the Survivors’ Secretariat. (Survivors Secretariat/Facebook) The search at the site where the Woodland Cultural Center now stands began in November after a preliminary survey by the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation in Kamloops, BC, last May identified about 200 possible graves. The secretariat has secured $10.2 million from the federal government over three years and $1.3 million from the provincial government — both amounts well below what the secretariat requested and representing only about a third of the money the team says it is needed for the quest. The ground survey will take years to complete. About 1.5 percent of the approximately 243 hectares has been surveyed to date. Bomberry said the City of Brantford provided lidar scans of the sites to help, which allowed the secretariat to work with geophysicists who can help interpret the data. Support is available for anyone affected by their residential school experience and for those challenged by these reports. A national residential school crisis line of India has been set up to provide support to school survivors and others affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866-925-4419.
