Milton Tootoosis, Malcolm Andrews, Fenton Favel and Floyd Favel were among the descendants of Poundmaker Cree Nation people who attended the Delmas Residential school that burned down in 1948. (Josh Ryan/battlefordsNOW)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Lives honoured

Prayer ceremony given for lost children of Delmas residential school

Jun 28, 2021 | 6:29 PM

Indigenous families shared an afternoon of prayer and solidarity Monday afternoon at Delmas, honouring the lives of those who lived and died in the time of residential schools.

Nearly 150 people attended a Pipe Ceremony and Feast for the Delmas Children, which was held near the original site of the St. Henri Residential School. The building was burned to the ground in 1948.

Karen Whitecalf of the Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs (BATC) said both acts of ceremony were important before searches for potential unmarked graves get underway.

“We invited community members to bring food, everyone was fed and the Elders said prayers in the teepee,” she said.

Whitecalf said it warmed her heart to see so many people attend the ceremony and for it to go smoothly.

Riderville

Now for the Hard Part

Dec 10, 2025

Grey Cup!!!

Everything you wanted and more

Nov 21, 2025

Ferland earns Grey Cup ring

'A wonderful human being': High school coach thrilled Logan Ferland is a Grey Cup champion

Nov 17, 2025

“There were so many people who came out from all the communities that were affected,” she said.

Several members of the Delmas community and council, as well as Mayor Ames Leslie of the Town of Battleford, also participated. Whitecalf said that was very encouraging.

“It shows that people are willing to work with us to bring closure and healing to all the communities,” she said.

The ceremony also acknowledged the children of the Battlefords Residential School, the site of which is located at The Ridge – Mgbhlm Economic Development lands.

Leaders with the BATC made plans for the next steps to come in with finding closure for families affected by the Delmas school. Ground Penetrating Radar will be used by SNC Lavalin to search for unmarked graves, starting Tuesday morning.

Stay with battlefordsNOW for more on this story on Tuesday.

—

cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW