William Lake First Nation

Toronto Star – Chief Willie Sellars of the William Lake First Nation delivered preliminary results from the first phase of an investigation into St. Josephs’ Mission Residential School. 93 potential human burials have been found in an area near a historic cemetery at the school site. Current data suggest that 50 of the potential 93 burials are not associated with the cemetery.

The investigation so far has examined 14 of 470 hectares around the site of the former residential school. Sellars said during the course of its work the investigation team has heard stories of torture, rape, forcible confinement and exposure to extreme conditions, among other abuses. Sellars said religious officials, the federal government and RCMP misled the public about what was happening at residential schools. He said that during the school’s operations, overseen by numerous religious sects but mainly the Catholic Church, children had spoke up to authorities about the conditions at the school. No action was taken, the chief said.

The Williams Lake First Nation is currently examining archives but said some key documents are missing.