Brantford residential school search could start this month

Six Nations of the Grand River elected chief Mark Hill says a search of the grounds at a former residential school in Brantford could start in October.

It's expected to begin the search at the Mohawk Institute as early as next month," Hill said on Sept. 30.

Speaking on Thursday to a small, masked crowd at an outdoor vigil at Chiefswood Park in Ohsweken, Hill said the survivor-led team is preparing to search the residential school site, mapping the grounds and hearing survivor testimonies.

That's exactly where we've been taking our direction in order to continue this important work," he said.

In its 140-year history, at least 15,000 children attended the Mohawk Institute - often referred to as The Mush Hole" in reference to the bland food - one of the country's oldest and longest-running residential schools.

I see our people coming together for the cause of honouring every child and getting every child back home," he said. That's exactly what we're going to do."

Hill spoke against a backdrop of luminaria laid out in the shape of a heart on the grass to commemorate the first-ever National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. White paper bags, each with a flickering electronic tealight inside, bore messages - Every Child Matters," We have heard you," Stay strong" - and children's drawings and newspaper clippings.

We need concrete action, and the time is now," he said, concluding his speech.

In July, Six Nations elected council announced $1-million in interim funding" to search the grounds. The same day, survivors called on Six Nations Police to launch a criminal investigation into children who disappeared or died at the institute.

The First Nations police service announced late July it would launch an investigation with the support of provincial police and Brantford police.

In a Sept. 30 email to The Spectator, Ontario Provincial Police spokesperson Bill Dickson said police services were working together to determine the steps ahead."

In late August, Dickson said an OPP case manager had been assigned to the investigation.

I can confirm that initial meetings have been held," he said. Discussions about the processes and planning are continuing."

Dickson said provincial police will work with all of our partners and assign the necessary resources to ensure a complete and thorough investigation is conducted. We cannot speculate on timing, processes or outcomes."

Brantford police spokesperson Robin Matthews-Osmond said police are still actively working to determine details and expect an update to be available in a few weeks."

The survivors' secretariat - the team leading the search efforts - has hired Indigenous lawyers to support the initiative.

In August, lawyer Kimberly Murray, a member of the Kanehsatake Mohawk Nation who led the TRC until 2015, was named executive oversight lead and will assist survivors with the investigation.

Lawyer Beverly Jacobs, a member of the Mohawk Nation of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and associate dean with University of Windsor's Faculty of Law, was named Indigenous human rights monitor in September. The role exists to ensure that integrity, fairness, transparency and accountability are upheld" throughout the police investigation, a Sept. 8 release reads.

Kate McCullough is a Hamilton-based reporter covering education at The Spectator. Reach her via email: kmccullough@thespec.com