Each light represents one of the unmarked graves. (Submitted photo/Kevin Friesen)

By paNOW Staff/The Canadian Press

Unmarked graves at Cowessess First Nation honoured during vigil

Jun 27, 2021 | 6:14 PM

Solar lights twinkled Saturday evening next to 751 unmarked graves near the site of a former residential school at the Cowessess First Nation.

Mann Northway GM in Prince Albert donated the lights in part to show support for employee Kevin Friesen who is also a member of the Cowessess First Nation. Friesen drove to his home reserve with the lights for a special vigil Saturday night and a moment of silence at 7:51 p.m.. A teepee has also been erected at the site and a fire will burn for four days.

(Submitted photo/Kevin Friesen)

Friesen told paNOW to see all the flags marking the graves and to lay the lights down was overwhelming.

“This covers probably just about a city block for space wise and talking to the elders and some of the residential school survivors’ people who have lived on their reserve for 60-70 years never knew those graves were there,” Friesen said.

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He explained the mayor of Melville, town of Broadview council, RM of Elcapo were all there to show support. Friesen wanted to thank everyone for that support and encouraged those affected by the discovery to ask for help if they don’t know what to do.

Cowessess councillor Jon Z. Lerat said there were tears but also laughs and smiles as families and friends gathered.

Lerat said it appears that not all of the unmarked graves contain children’s bodies. He said the area was also used as a burial site by the rural municipality.

Thursday’s announcement of the burial site comes weeks after a First Nation in B-C confirmed a similar finding of what are believed to be the remains of 215 children at another former residential school.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has apologized to the people of the Cowessess for the pain they are feeling.
That suffering and grief is also prompting a number of communities across the country to cancel or alter their Canada Day celebrations

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-With files from the Canadian Press

panews@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow