A cairn was erected at the gravesite in 1975 to recognize the 74 individuals buried there, most of whom were children. (file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

REMEMBERING OUR PAST

Battleford Industrial School Cemetery receives provincial heritage property designation

Oct 28, 2019 | 12:12 PM

The Battleford Industrial School was the first federally-sponsored residential school in Canada.

Located south of Battleford, the school’s cemetery is the resting place for at least 74 children who died while attending the school between 1883 and 1914.

After receiving Municipal Heritage Property designation in May 2018, the provincial government has designated the site as the newest Provincial Heritage Property in Saskatchewan.

“Commemorating those who lost their lives, language and culture through residential schools is an important step for our province on the path toward reconciliation,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Gene Makowsky said in a press release.

The site was nominated for the recognition by the Battleford Industrial School Commemorative Association. Ben Fiest is a member of the organization and said the cemetery is an important place for all community members to better understand the inter-generational impacts of the residential school system. He said the cemetary is a place to honour children who were separated from their families and communities.

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“It is an important place to remember for our community and to focus on the legacy of residential schools in Saskatchewan and across Canada,” he said.

A cairn was erected at the gravesite in 1975 to recognize the individuals buried there. A plaque with their names inscribed was placed on the cairn by the Anglican church that operated the school on behalf of the federal government.

The school was originally located about three kilometres south of Battleford, while the cemetery is southwest of the former school near the Battle River.

In 2018, a group of concerned citizens were successful in having the Rural Municipality of Battle River pass a bylaw to designate the property a heritage site to protect and preserve it for the future.

The project started in an effort to fulfill a call to action of The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s report pertaining to missing children and unmarked burials. The commission was mandated to make Canadians aware of the history of Canada’s residential schools.

Provincial Heritage Property designation, according to the province, plays an integral role in the preservation of sites important to the province’s heritage. Many of these are located on private land and not open to the public without permission from the owner.

Fiest said the heritage designation is key as it not only cements the sites place in the history books, but heightens its profile.

“It has the effect of creating more interest in learning about this part of our history,” he added. “It is something people can understand and connect us to the history of residential schools across Canada.”

Other provincial heritage properties around the area include Government House, the Battleford Land Registry Office, the Gardiner Church, Fred Light Museum, St. Vital Church, Town Hall and several other buildings in Battleford, and the North Battleford Public Library, now Allen Sapp Gallery. Nearby, the Prongua Elevator and nearby Anglican hold the designation.

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cjnbnews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow