Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Nishinabek (Grassy Narrows First Nation) - Chief Rude Turtle - (File Photo/Acadia Broadcasting)
The Chief of Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Nishinabek (Grassy Narrows First Nation) feels the federal government needs to provide more financial support to find unmarked residential school graves.
Grassy Narrows First Nation was set to begin its search for the McIntosh Residential School Unmarked Graves this year but a lack of funding may pull the plug on the project.
In a letter sent to Acadia Broadcasting, the communities’ Chief Rudy Turtle highlighted funding as a key issue.
“On July 18, 2024, an official announcement was made by the Government of Canada in which a funding cap was placed on Residential School Searches of $500,000 per year as opposed to the initial commitment of $3 million,” wrote Turtle. “The funding cap will prevent Grassy Narrows with moving forward with the ground search this summer the way it was planned out. It may even lead to a complete halt in operations.”
“This reduction in funding exhibits how out of touch the Government of Canada is with the needs of our First Nation People and the reality of the diverse nature of each Residential School search site.”
Grassy Narrows First Nation and the federal government have been in consistent communication. The First Nation says the government verbally committed to supporting the search efforts with the required funding.
They added that the feds have consistently said that the funding amounts available in previous years would remain the same through 2026, but that did not turn out to be the case.
“Grassy Narrows and Wiikwogaming Tiinahtiisiiwin have operated under the same financial expectations as the other communities and expect Canada to honour their verbal commitments,” added Turtle. “This generational travesty was caused by the Government of Canada, and the government of Canada has an obligation and responsibility to do everything in its power to right its wrongs.”
The First Nation hopes to receive all the necessary funding to locate the unmarked graves at former residential school sites, to return the children home to their rightful resting place.
“As we waste time-fighting for money that has already been promised, we risk losing more Survivors, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers that hold answers to this part of Canada’s dark history.”
