Lheidli T’enneh Chief Dollen Logan shared her thoughts on the discovery of the 93 graves that were found at the site of the former St. Joseph’s Mission, south of Williams Lake.
According to the Williams Lake First Nation, an initial examination of the grounds shows more than half were found outside the school’s burial grounds.
Logan told the media today (Wednesday) Ottawa and the catholic church should be stepping up to the plate to provide financial support.
“They shouldn’t have to look for funding. The federal government, the church, everyone should just be giving their money and sending everything that they need as they should be doing for every catholic school across Canada.”
“We shouldn’t have to advocate and we shouldn’t have to ask for help, it should just be a given. The federal government and the churches should be saying Ok we did wrong and we are going to try to help out and send the funding.”
In terms of discoveries and findings for the northern region, Logan believes the Williams Lake investigation is just the “tip of the iceberg”
“Williams Lake still has about 400 acres left to go. I am not sure how big Lejac is and it’s a huge territory as I have heard stories about kids running away from there and not coming back. It’s hitting closer and closer to home. We all feel for everybody and Lejac is right there. It’s so close.”
“I heard of three students who ran across the lake and fell through. If it wasn’t for Kamloops and releasing what they had discovered all of this would still be buried. The 93 children in Williams Lake would not have been found,” added Logan.
WLFN Chief Willie Sellars added their investigation has detailed stories of the disappearance and murder of children, as well as sexual assault, starvation, and torture of students at the former site