Possible Unmarked Graves Found at Lejac Residential School in B.C.

First Nation in Northern B.C. Uncovers Potential Unmarked Graves at Former Residential School Site

The Nadleh Whut’en First Nation in north-central British Columbia has reported finding potential unmarked graves on the grounds of the Lejac Indian Residential School. The discovery follows an ongoing search using ground-penetrating radar.

At a news conference on Saturday, Chief Beverly Ketlo shared the preliminary results, revealing “23 markers” that may indicate burial sites. “We have always known children were buried there, but this confirms the possibility of more unmarked graves,” said Ketlo.

Lejac Residential School, located 140 kilometers west of Prince George, operated from 1922 to 1976. Approximately 7,850 Indigenous children were forcibly sent to the church-run institution, which has long been associated with trauma and abuse.

The search, guided by survivors and called Nez Keh Hubuk’uznootah—Dakelh for “Let’s look for our children”—is part of broader efforts by First Nations across Canada to locate missing children who died in residential schools.

Ground-penetrating radar, while unable to identify human remains directly, detected soil anomalies over 142,500 square meters of land, with further surveys planned to explore additional areas identified by survivors.

Former Chief Archie Patrick, who attended Lejac as a child, described the school as “a jail for children,” where students endured forced labor, malnutrition, and psychological trauma. “The horrors of Lejac are not just a thing of the past,” added Ketlo. “These abuses continue to have a lasting impact on survivors and their families.”

The findings add to growing evidence of the atrocities committed at residential schools in Canada, with the Nadleh Whut’en First Nation emphasizing the need for ongoing investigation, remembrance, and justice.