Ontario commits $10 million to investigate burial sites at residential schools

Ontario is committing $10 million to identify, investigate and commemorate burial sites on the grounds of former residential schools in the province.

The money will also go toward culturally appropriate mental health supports for residential school survivors, their families and communities

Premier Doug Ford announced the funds Tuesday, with Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford and Indigenous leaders including Six Nations Elected Chief Mark Hill, who was joined by residential school survivors.

RELATED STORY: Six Nations Chief calling on feds to commit $10M to search for unmarked graves

The announcement comes after what are believed to be the remains of 215 children were found at a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C.

Ontario says its process for investigating school sites will be established with Indigenous leaders and will involve archaeologists, forensic specialists, historians and other experts.

Ford says the process will be Indigenous led and will respect the communities and families. “There’s painful but necessary work ahead but we must confront what happened for reconciliation to be achieved.” @CHCHNews

— Nicole Martin (@nicolemartintv) June 15, 2021

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission identified 12 locations of unmarked burial sites in Ontario and the province says there are likely more.