The City of North Battleford lowered its flags to half mast June 24 to honour the children who died in residential school. (Josh Ryan/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

Community saddened

Battlefords community mourns discovery of 751 unmarked graves at former Marieval residential school

Jun 24, 2021 | 2:26 PM

The Battlefords community is shocked by the latest report of 751 unmarked graves found at a site near the former Marieval Indian Residential School on Cowessess First Nation in southeast Saskatchewan.

Battlefords MLA Jeremy Cockrill said he is deeply saddened to hear of the findings.

“It was a tragic and heartbreaking discovery. It was so heartbreaking, you don’t even know what to say. To think about that number, and just the thousands of children separated from their families.”

The grim discovery comes less than a month after the May report that 215 children’s remains were found on the grounds of the former residential school in Kamloops, British Columbia.

Battleford Mayor Ames Leslie posted a message on his Facebook Page in response to the findings near the former Marieval residential school site. (Ames Leslie/Facebook)

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Cockrill said the Government of Saskatchewan is committed to working with the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) and provided $2 million to them for residential school site research efforts throughout Saskatchewan.

The City of North Battleford and the Town of Battleford lowered their flags on Thursday to honour the children who died at Marieval residential school.

Battleford Mayor Ames Leslie said on his Facebook Page the town sends its sympathies to everyone impacted.

“Let us have open minds and hearts, let us embrace the needs of our Indigenous neighbours today and into the future as they attempt to find hope and make sense of these atrocities against so many of their youth,” he said. The Town of Battleford will continue to fly our flags at half-mast in honour of these lost souls. Council is also committed to work with local Indigenous leaders to address the need of searching our shared lands for any lost souls.”

Leslie also asked everyone to think of the survivors, and how each of these announcements adds to their pain and grief.

The City of North Battleford also extended their sympathies.

“On behalf of city council, city staff and the residents of North Battleford, Mayor David Gillan expresses heartfelt condolences in recognition of the discovery of 751 unmarked graves located in a cemetery near the former Marieval Indian Residential School. Discoveries like this cause deep sadness and pain for all of us. North Battleford grieves with all who are suffering and enduring during this painful time,” the city said in a statement.

“The city continues to partner with our regional First Nations and Indigenous neighbours to better understand our past and bring positive change to the future,” the statement said.

The Indian Residential School Crisis Line is available for anyone needing support at
1-866-925-4419.

battlefordsNOW is awaiting comment from Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs Inc.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow