Ted Quewasence was one of the first to come out publicly decades ago about abuse at residential schools and his own experiences. It has only been in recent years that information provided by Residential School Survivors has been explored to the point the unmarked graves could be found.

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) findings at Keeseekoose First Nation’s former Indian Residential Schools were revealed this morning (tues) and as Mr. Quewasence described it, in a voice filled with emotion, he said there were 54 “hits”.

“Many Canadians still cannot believe that a human being could treat another human being, especially a child, like the way we were treated. Many in the churches could not believe that those committed to God could treat children that way.”

There were 42 hits on the Fort Pelly site which was founded in 1895 and ran until 1913. And so far 12 at St. Philips site which ran from 1928 to 1969. Mr. Quewasence says it was their oral history which guided the ground penetrating radar.

There are calls for the Catholic Church to relinquish their records so any graves discovered can be identified.