Alberta researchers recently found evidence of 88 potential unmarked graves near the former school.

Under the leadership of Dr. Kisha Supernant, the search operation centered on specific areas indicated by residential school survivors and community elders. Covering a vast expanse of 4,500 square meters, Dr. Supernant’s team employed ground-penetrating radar to meticulously scan the land for potential burial pits or grave shafts.

During the survey, the team discovered indications of unmarked graves in two distinct locations, both situated outside the confines of the school cemetery. One of these locations was found in proximity to the workshop situated on the school grounds, while the other was identified near the residence designated for the priest.

With ancestral ties to Joussard, Dr. Supernant has emphasized that the research team strongly advocates for additional investigations into the graves discovered outside the boundaries of the school cemetery.

These findings highlight the need to delve deeper into the matter and gather more information regarding these potentially unmarked burial sites on the school grounds.

Talisha Chaput, an esteemed anthropology professor at the University of Alberta, cautions against accepting all interpretations and findings solely based on the ground-penetrating system.

“Ground-penetrating system is one way of looking underneath the ground ΓǪ it is not an end-all-be-all technology,” she said.

She underscores the importance of corroborating the potential graves through alternative means such as testimonies, historical records, and school attendance records of students. Additional methods for verification could involve excavation procedures or employing specially trained dogs to detect the scent of human remains buried in the ground. These complementary approaches play a crucial role in confirming the existence of the unmarked graves.

The community of Joussard is currently deliberating on the subsequent course of action to validate the presence of the graves.

over 1,100 individuals from the community congregated in Joussard on Saturday to participate in a poignant blanket ceremony, paying homage to those individuals believed to be interred in the unmarked graves.

“People were wrapped in the blanket, and they cuddled in that blanket to show compassion, care and love,” said Shane Pospisil, executive director of the Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council

According to Pospisil, the community is experiencing a wide array of emotions, encompassing both tears and smiles, while, for some, it remains an ordinary day in the town.

This expanded investigation will include previously inaccessible land that was not accessible during the previous summer.

Supernant highlighted the challenges faced by First Nations communities when it comes to accessing the land. In certain cases, former school areas have been transformed into new developments, while others have been acquired by private landowners.

“This is a real challenge because these are big, big plots of land that the schools were built on. And there are many places that need to be searched,” she said.