Kamloops Indian Residential School. (CFJC News)

By Connor Gunn

Alberta funding $8 million to research undocumented deaths and burials in residential schools

Jun 23, 2021 | 12:42 PM

EDMONTON, AB – Premier Jason Kenney announced a new grant for Indigenous communities and groups that will lead the research into the tragic legacy of Canada’s residential school program in Alberta.

“All Albertans stand with Indigenous communities across the country who live with the legacy of Canada’s residential school program. The devastating discovery of 215 human remains in Kamloops has been a call to action.”

Kenney says there is more research needed to discover the full effect of these schools.

“A great deal of work has been done by First Nations and others to help identify remains and undocumented burial sites, but there is much more work that still needs to be done. Alberta’s government is committed to assisting Indigenous communities identify and commemorate these sites, in the spirit of reconciliation.”

The province says the grants will be for the following purposes:

What's Happening in Lethbridge this week: January 20-26, 2025

Jan 20, 2025

What's Happening in Lethbridge this week: January 6-12, 2025

Jan 07, 2025

What's Happening in Lethbridge this week: December 30 - January 5, 2025

Dec 30, 2024

• Community-driven research, including gathering oral histories and knowledge of elders (as appropriate).
• Community-led engagement to determine how communities wish to proceed with a burial site.
• Use of ground-penetrating radar and other technologies to explore potential unmarked burial sites.
• Partnering with experts experienced in locating human burials.
• Maintenance and commemorative work, such as installation or restoration of grave markers, placement of memorials, or commemoration events.

Groups looking to apply for the grant will have to submit a research proposal for a single residential school site.

Individual applicants can receive up to a maximum of $150,000 and applications are open until January 15, 2022.

Apply at the Alberta Residential Schools Community Research Grant.