The grave of residential school student Henry Achenam. Chief Lori Whitecalf and BATC executive director Neil Sasakamoose at Henry Achenam’s grave. Photos by John Cairns
The search for graves of those who attended the former Delmas Indian Residential School site has begun. On Saturday morning, the search for unmarked graves began with the use of ground-penetrating radar on the grounds of the former Thunderchild/St. Henri Indian Residential School which burned down in 1948. The ground-penetrating radar was conducted by SNC-Lavalin and that was expected to run until 5 p.m. on Saturday, and then continue again Sunday. According to Neil Sasakamoose of Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs, the plan is to finish grid one at the actual residential school site this weekend and look at the data Monday. The plan is then to finish grid two and grid three at the residential school site, before moving on to potential sites located against buildings inside the town.