Search for Graves at Former Spanish Residential Schools Deeply Affects Kahnawakero:non
Written by Paul Graif on 8 February 2022
The Nisoonag Partnership representing Serpent River, Sagamok-Anishnawbek and Mississauga First Nation plans to begin searching the former Spanish residential schools for possible human remains. Josie McGregor of Kahnawake attended the Spanish residential school for girls from 1940-51 beginning when she was just five years old. Now 88 years old She still has a difficult time talking about it.
“I just wish they would leave well enough alone,” McGregor said. “I don’t even like to talk about it. What are they going too do when they find remains? I don’t know. When I was there I never heard of anybody dying or missing.”
Serpent River Chief Brent Bissaillion says the partnership has received nearly $700,000 from the federal government for 2021-2022 in initial funding with a further commitment for 2023-24 to follow while Ontario has committed $900,000 for 2021- 2024.
