Nearly 100 ‘potential human burials’ discovered at British Columbia school

A First Nation in Canada says it has discovered 93 potential grave sites on the grounds of a former residential school.

The chief and council of Williams Lake First Nation said that a preliminary search of St Joseph's Mission Residential School had revealed "potential human burials" in a small portion of the school's sprawling grounds.

"This journey has led our investigation team into the darkest recesses of human behaviour," said Kúkpi7 (chief) Willie Sellars on Tuesday.

The school operated in the province of British Columbia between 1891 and 1981 and has a dark history of abuse. Many students ran away and others tried to kill themselves. One child died of exposure in the wilderness after fleeing.

"At the time, the coroner's service and RCMP saw no reason to investigate the death as the child was 'only an Indian'," Sellars said.

He said the investigation had exacted a heavy on toll survivors.

"Our team has recorded not only stories regarding the murder and disappearance of children and infants, they have listened to countless stories of systematic torture, starvation, rape and sexual assault of children at St Joseph's Mission," he said.