"led by the children, survivors and our kate-ayak"
Star Blanket Cree Nation
Indian Residential School Ground Search Project
The QIRS, LIRS, IRS Ground Search Program started in 2021, led by Our Director of Operations Sheldon Poitras and Honorable Chief Michael Starr. The SBCN IRS Ground Search Project is guided and supported by our kēhtē-ayak whose directives are carried out by the SBCN IRS Ground Search Project Team. Our project strives to provide the most professional, ethical, cultural and communal approach to searching for and bringing back our children that never made it home.
Project Overview
starblanket cree nation Indian residential school
Ground Search Project
Embarking on a mission of historical significance, our Proud cree Nation is dedicated to uncovering the untold stories and unmarked graves of missing children who were once students at the Qu'Appelle Indian Residential School. Rooted in a commitment to seeking truth and justice, our project aims to bring closure to the former students and their families, who endured the injustices and abuses inflicted by these institutions, whether in the realm of the living or the spirit world. Following the Traditional Protocol of the nēhiyawē peoples in the Treaty 4 area of Southern Saskatchewan, our approach is steeped in cultural reverence.
Our multifaceted strategy involves a thorough exploration of potential unmarked graves, utilizing the wisdom of our Elders, Spiritual People and modern science to guide us. Additionally, we intend to ethically gather truths, stories, oral histories, and archival information from survivors, descendants, and those within our community possessing oral history. By doing so, we aspire to contribute to the collective healing process while preserving and honoring the experiences of those affected by the Qu'Appelle Indian Residential School.
