Ahousaht First Nation to release findings from search for missing residential school children – CBC

Apr 10, 2024

News conference to be held Wednesday afternoon

ʕaaḥuusʔath (Ahousaht) First Nation will release the findings from phase one of its search for missing children who attended two residential schools in its territory on Wednesday in Ahousaht, B.C.

In a news release Monday, ̣̣ʕaaḥuusʔath said the findings come from ground surveys, archival research and oral history.

Ahousaht Indian Residential School on Maaqutusiis (Flores Island) and the Christie Indian Residential School on Hilth hoo is (Meares Island) were located on ʕaaḥuusʔatḥ territory, about 220 kilometres northwest of Victoria.

Ahousaht Indian Residential School opened in 1904 and ran until 1940. According to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) website, it was Presbyterian-run until the United Church took over in 1925. The website says students were not permitted to speak their Indigenous language and every staff member carried a strap. The NCTR lists the names of 13 students known to have died there.

Read More: https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/ahousaht-residential-school-search-1.7168362