Poundmaker's Lodge wants Alberta government to return land containing potential unmarked graves

Author of the article:Ashley Joannou
Publishing date:Jun 27, 2021 • 

The Poundmaker's Lodge Treatment Centres Society says burial sites on the school ground have been identified by survivors and verified by ground penetrating radar several times in the past, and the society has some burial maps of the site. 

The Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centres Society wants the Alberta government to return a portion of land next to the site of the former Edmonton Indian Residential School, which they say could contain unmarked graves.

The Poundmaker’s Lodge has sat on the site of the former residential school northwest of Edmonton for decades. In a statement last week, officials said land adjacent to the property, known as River Lot 56, has been identified as “an area of concern” by survivors of the school.

“Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centres Society recognizes the quickly developing surrounding areas and is proactively working with the Nations toward urban reserve status to ensure the protection and perpetuity of this sacred land,” the statement says.

No one from the society was available for additional comment prior to presstime.

River Lot 56 is a provincially managed natural area that is sometimes used for hiking or cross-country skiing.

In a statement, Adrienne South, press secretary for Indigenous Affairs Minister Rick Wilson, did not directly answer questions about whether the province would be willing to return River Lot 56 or what the potential process would involve.

She pointed to the $8 million that has been earmarked by the government for grants to Indigenous communities to identifying unmarked burial sites and commemorate them.

“These grants will go to support Indigenous organizations so they can decide how to best approach these sensitive issues. Such work can help inform the issue raised by Poundmaker’s Lodge, and potential next steps,” she said.

Poundmaker’s Lodge said burial sites on the school ground have been identified by survivors and verified by ground penetrating radar several times in the past. The society also has some burial maps of the site.

“Moving forward, there is a plan in place to continue to work with ground penetrating radar in further exploration of additional burial sites which are known to exist,” the statement says.

According to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, the Edmonton Indian Residential School ran from 1924 to 1968 and had as many as 200 students at a time, including from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, British Columbia, Northwest Territories and Yukon.

The society is also working with the University of Calgary and Alberta Culture and Heritage to develop the last remaining historical building on site into a historic resource centre and is planning on developing a digital resource museum after further consultation with Elders and survivors.

“Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centres Society’s Eagle Staff reminds us that we are the keepers of this sacred land; the land where our children walked and are buried,” the statement says.

“We will ensure their stories continue to be told where voices were silenced so others will not forget.”

Meanwhile, a gathering of survivors is being planned for July 5 and 6. Survivors can confirm their attendance by calling the lodge.

The Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line is available 24-hours a day for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of a residential school experience. Support is available at 1-866-925-4419.