Alberta creates $8M fund to aid search for unmarked residential school graves
Alberta has created an $8 million fund to aid the search for unmarked graves and undocumented deaths linked to residential schools across the province.
"We hope this action will be one small evidence of the desire of Albertans to pursue the path of reconciliation and to honour those children whose lives were lost," Premier Jason Kenney said Wednesday.
Indigenous communities in Alberta can now apply online for the funding from the grant program. Communities or organizations can submit a research proposal for a single residential school site to receive a maximum of $150,000.
The premier said the money can be put towards whatever research is needed, including the use of ground-penetrating radar near suspected grave sites, as well as the creation or restoration of memorials.
"Alberta's government wants to do its part to help First Nations do that critical work."
Chief William Morin of the Enoch Cree First Nation welcomed the announcement.
"Those open wounds are very much open at this time," he said. "It's a great reconciliatory action."
"This is a significant start."
The province indicated its intention to find unmarked Indigenous graves last month, shortly after the discovery of the remains of 215 children at a mass grave near the former Kamloops Indian Residential School.
Of the 134 officially designated residential schools in Canada, at least 25 operated in Alberta between 1893 and 1996.
Kenney said Alberta was home to more residential schools than any other province.
"All or most of those sites must have graves close to them," he said.
Actions 74 and 94 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls on the federal government, church and Indigenous community leaders to work toward finding where children are buried, as well as responding to the wishes of properly commemorating the lives lost in the residential school system.
Contact the Indian Residential School Survivors Society toll-free 1 (800) 721-0066 or 24-hour Crisis Line 1 (866) 925-4419 if you require further emotional support or assistance.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
The kids from 'Mrs. Doubtfire are all SUPER grown up now, and we're not OK
The adorable trio of child actors from the 1993 classic comedy 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' which starred the late and great Robin Williams, are all grown up and looking back on their seminal time together.
Parliamentary report on Emergencies Act decision is 18 months past due — and counting
The erstwhile group of senators and MPs studying the federal government's invocation of the Emergencies Act over the "Freedom Convoy" was supposed to present its findings in December. December of 2022, that is.
Drone footage shows Ukrainian village battered to ruins as residents flee Russian advance
The Ukrainian village of Ocheretyne has been battered by fighting, drone footage obtained by The Associated Press shows. The village has been a target for Russian forces in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Egypt media cite progress in truce talks as Israel downplays chances of end to war with Hamas
A delegation of the Palestinian militant group Hamas was in Cairo on Saturday as Egyptian state media reported "noticeable progress" in ongoing cease-fire talks with Israel while an Israeli official downplayed the prospects for a full end to the war.
Bystander livestreams during Charlotte standoff show an ever-growing appetite for social media video
Saing Chhoeun was locked out of his Charlotte, N.C., home on Monday as law enforcement with high-powered rifles descended into his yard and garage, using a car as a shield as they were met with a shower of gunfire from the direction of his neighbor's house.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.