Chief Jenny Wolverine has reported that the search has uncovered a total of 93 unmarked graves, comprising 79 children and 14 infants.

Chief Jenny Wolverine has reported that the search has uncovered a total of 93 unmarked graves, comprising 79 children and 14 infants.

The English River First Nation has discovered a set of 93 unmarked graves in the vicinity of the former cemetery of the Beauval Indian Residential School. This count surpasses the initial update provided by the community earlier this month, which had reported 10 fewer graves.

“To date, there are 93 unmarked graves, 79 children and 14 infants. We initially issued a press release that indicated that there were 83. However, the additional number was confirmed by the archeologist when he placed the flags,” Chief Jenny Wolverine said in a news conference Tuesday in Saskatoon.

“Let me be clear that this is not a finality. This is not a final number. It breaks my heart that there are likely more, or even that there is even one. The experience of residential school is horrific.”

Wolverine noted that the discoveries have implications for 16 communities in the northwestern region, encompassing Métis communities as well. She emphasized that these findings provide tangible validation for the narratives of mistreatment within residential schools that have been passed down through generations.

As documented in a University of Regina publication, the Beauval Indian Residential School gained recognition as a formal boarding school with government backing in 1897, maintaining its operations until 1983.

While acknowledging the closure of the school, Wolverine highlighted that its legacy continues to reverberate in present-day communities, contributing to the erosion of language and culture.