Search for unmarked graves begins at former residential school in Brantford

The search for unmarked graves at the former Mohawk Institute Residential School in Brantford will begin Tuesday.

Survivors, Six Nations Police and members of the community will be conducting a complete search of the 500 acres of the lands associated with the former church-run, government-funded Indian Residential School at 184 Mohawk St.

The Survivors’ Secretariat – a survivor-led initiative that coordinates protocols and processes associated with death investigations – will be overseeing the search.

The search for unmarked graves has begun in Brantford at the former Mohawk Institute Residential School. Survivors are on hand along with Six Nations Police and OPP @CHCHNews pic.twitter.com/ZwETLI3MTJ

— Nicole Martin (@nicolemartintv) November 9, 2021

In a news release issued on Monday, the Survivors’ Secretariat said with the leadership of the survivors, they have conducted a mapping exercise, reviewed archival records and are ready to begin phase one of the ground search.

“This is heavy work that needs to be done. As Survivors we take comfort in knowing that this Sacred work is being done in a good way with our community members’ participation,” said survivor Sherlene Bomberry in a news release. “We have been clear that the search must be Survivor-led and community-involved.”

Two Ground Penetrating Radar machines will be used to conduct numerous grid searches. The grids are being laid out with the assistance of a Search Master from the Ontario Provincial Police.

Survivors and police officers have undergone training on how to utilize the equipment and will be “paired together” to conduct the search.

During the last month’s training, CHCH News spoke with Geronimo Henry, a residential school survivor who attended the Mohawk Institute Resident School for 11 years.

Henry will be one of many survivors who will be assisting in the search. He said if any unmarked graves are discovered, they will try and locate the families. The families will then decide if they want to exhume the remains of their loved ones and bring them back to the reserve for burial or leave them at the site.

The complete search and investigation could take several years.

Residential school survivor Dawn Hill, Six Nations of the Grand River Elected Council Chief Mark B. Hill, Executive Lead of Survivors’ Secretariat Kimberly R. Murray and Six Nations Police Chief Darren Montour will speak at a news conference at 11 a.m. as the search for unmarked graves begins at the former Mohawk Institute Residential School in Brantford.

Six Nations of the Grand River says there are resources available to help if you are in need of support.

• 24/7 National Indian Residential School Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419
• 24/7 Six Nations Crisis Line: 519-445-2204 or 1-866-445-2204
• Six Nations Mental Health and Addictions: 519-445-2143 (Monday – Friday, 8:30am -4:30pm)
• In an emergency, call 9-1-1