Close X
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. First Nation research finds 158 child deaths at four facilities

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 21 Sep, 2023 04:16 PM
  • B.C. First Nation research finds 158 child deaths at four facilities

An investigation into unmarked graves and missing children by British Columbia’s Sto:lo Nation has revealed at least 158 deaths, most of them at a hospital.

Researchers with the nation say archival documents from three residential schools and a First Nation hospital show most of the children reportedly died of disease, some of accidents, while other causes of death are unknown. 

The documents came from St. Mary’s residential school, the Coqualeetza Industrial Institute, and the Coqualeetza hospital, all in the Fraser Valley, and the All Hallows School in Yale, B.C.

Sto:lo researcher Amber Kostuchenko says they are still gathering information and estimate they have about half of the 70,000 documents they need to account for what happened to their relatives in the institutions. 

Of the 158 deaths dating back to the opening of St. Mary's in 1863, 96 occurred at the hospital, most of them from tuberculosis or other diseases. 

Lead researcher David Schaepe says survivors told them of many atrocities committed against children, including sexual assaults, starvation and secret burials. 

 

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. rescue team waiting for Turkey quake go-ahead

B.C. rescue team waiting for Turkey quake go-ahead
B.C.'s Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma says the province reached out to Public Safety Canada on Monday morning, just hours after the quake, because such emergency assistance needs to be co-ordinated.

B.C. rescue team waiting for Turkey quake go-ahead

Former B.C. premier Horgan to leave politics

Former B.C. premier Horgan to leave politics
While he didn't give a specific time for his departure, he suggested St. Patrick's Day on March 17 might be a good day to go. Horgan, who's 63, has twice battled cancer, and announced last June that health reasons were forcing him to retire from the premier's job after five years.

Former B.C. premier Horgan to leave politics

Service gap in B.C. correctional centres: audit

Service gap in B.C. correctional centres: audit
A report from the office of B.C.'s auditor general says the audit found "full care plans" were completed for fewer than half of 92 sample clients jailed in eight of the province's 10 institutions between January 2019 and December 2021.

Service gap in B.C. correctional centres: audit

Canada looks to help applicants from Turkey, Syria

Canada looks to help applicants from Turkey, Syria
Two major earthquakes rocked southwestern Turkey and northwestern Syria in a matter of hours on Monday, destroying thousands of buildings. The confirmed death toll keeps rising, with more than 19,800 people killed and at least another 64,000 injured.

Canada looks to help applicants from Turkey, Syria

Trust in governments rebounds after pandemic

Trust in governments rebounds after pandemic
NDP supporters were the most likely to say parties are divisive, at 65 per cent, compared with 62 per cent of Conservative supporters. Liberals supporters were the least concerned about it, with 52 per cent listing political parties as divisive.

Trust in governments rebounds after pandemic

New Buy American talk 'concerning' to B.C. lumber

New Buy American talk 'concerning' to B.C. lumber
The B.C. Lumber Trade Council says it's "concerning" that Biden says he wants to restrict the use of foreign lumber in federally funded infrastructure projects. Biden announced the expanded rules during Tuesday's state of the union speech on Capitol Hill.

New Buy American talk 'concerning' to B.C. lumber