(Image via New York Times)

NY Times profiles USask researchers using radar to discover unmarked residential school graves

A video from the New York Times features the work being done by a team of archaeologists led in part by Dr. Terence Clark (PhD) of the University of Saskatchewan (USask), who came to the Muskowekwan First Nation to search for the unmarked graves of children.

By University Communications

Searching For the Graves Of Canada’s Indigenous Children is a powerful and tragic look at the history of Indigenous children in Canada who were forced to attend residential schools.

The video, which also features several USask graduate students along with researchers from the University of Alberta, profiles the work of archeologists who—using ground-penetrating radar technology—can get a detailed look of disturbances in the ground.

Based on historical documents and interviews with survivors, researchers said they expected to find more than 80 unmarked graves, according to an article by the New York Times.

Watch this video below: (Warning: This video contains details some may find distressing.): 

The work of USask archaeology students and professors using ground-penetrating radar has been previously covered before. An article in the Prince Albert Herald detailed how these researchers were able to locate graves and a cemetery in northern Saskatchewan.

Clark has also been featured in a piece by CBC on how radar technology is used to discover unmarked graves at former residential schools.

An article via Global Saskatoon has similarly outlined how archaeology and biology students at USask are locating unmarked or shifted gravesites in an old Saskatoon cemetery, with a variety of non-intrusive imaging and topographical technologies.

 USask has outlined supports available to the campus community via the Student Wellness Centre and Student Affairs and Outreach. Staff and faculty can access confidential counselling through the Employee and Family Assistance Program. The following community-based supports are also available:

  • The Indian Residential School Survivors Society at 1-800-721-0066 along with a 24-hour crisis line at 1-866-925-4419 for those who need immediate support.
  • The KUU-US Crisis Line Society provides an Indigenous-specific crisis line available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It's toll-free and can be reached at 1-800-588-8717.
  • The First Nations Health Authority offers support specifically for survivors and families who have been directly impacted by the Indian Residential School system.