Almost two-thirds of Canadians say more evidence needed to accept 'unmarked graves' report in Kamloops

It’s been over four years since news broke of a potentially shocking find in the grounds of what was once the largest residential school in Canada, in Kamloops, B.C.

Ground-penetrating radar revealed soil “anomalies” that might — or might not — be graves. Despite the uncertainty, media organizations and members of the public started referring to the anomalies as the graves of children. To date, no human remains have been confirmed or exhumed, and the suspected anomalies remain unverified.

Now a new survey from Angus Reid finds that a majority of Canadians, both Indigenous and not, are unwilling to accept that the anomalies are the graves of children without further evidence.

Survey participants were given the following question: “The Kamloops band’s claim of 215 unmarked graves of children was later revised to about 200 “anomalies” and suspected burial sites. The federal government has given $12.1 million in funding to assist in investigating this issue. To date, no additional reports have been made public. What is closer to your view?”

Sixty-three per cent of respondents chose: “People should only accept the claim that this is evidence of unmarked children’s graves if further information is publicly available to verify it through excavation.” The remaining 37 per cent agreed with: “People should accept the claim that this is evidence of unmarked children’s graves, even if no further information is publicly offered.”

Regionally, the number of people who thought more information was needed varied from 55 per cent in Quebec to 75 per cent in Manitoba.

The survey also asked respondents to identify themselves as Indigenous or non-Indigenous. When the Indigenous responses were tabulated, a slightly higher number (44 per cent) thought people should accept that the anomalies are unmarked children’s graves. But most (56 per cent) thought more information was needed to verify the claim.

The Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation first published the explosive news in May of 2021 , stating: “This past weekend, with the help of a ground penetrating radar specialist, the stark truth of the preliminary findings came to light — the confirmation of the remains of 215 children who were students of the Kamloops Indian Residential School.”

The news touched off a prolonged period of public outrage and an unprecedented wave of arsons targeting predominantly Indigenous churches. That summer, more than 60 Canadian churches would be destroyed, desecrated or vandalized.

But by last summer the language had been toned down considerably, with a Day of Reflection statement from the First Nation noting: “With the help of a ground penetrating radar specialist, the stark truth of the preliminary findings came to light — the confirmation of 215 anomalies were detected.”

Despite widespread questions about the nature of the anomalies, Canadians are united in the view that residential schools amounted to a form of “cultural genocide,” with 68 per cent agreeing or strongly agreeing with the term, and only 23 per cent disagreeing or strongly disagreeing. The remaining 9 per cent weren’t sure.

The survey also found that most Canadians overestimated how many Indigenous children attended residential schools. Roughly a third of respondents thought it was 40 to 60 per cent of children, while another third chose 60 to 80 per cent, and a few thought it was even higher. In fact, according to Angus Reid, roughly 30 per cent of Indigenous children attended a residential school, although it admits that precise numbers are unclear.

The survey also found little appetite in Canada for a law against those would deny the harmful effects of residential schools, something the First Nations Leadership Council called for this year. Almost two-thirds (62 per cent) of respondents were opposed or strongly opposed to the idea, while a further 24 per cent offered support or strong support, and 15 per cent weren’t sure.

There was less unanimity when respondents were asked to choose between the statements: “Canada spends too much time apologizing for Indian Residential Schools – it’s time to move on,” and “The harm from Indian Residential Schools continues and cannot be ignored.” Roughly half (46 per cent) agreed with the first statement, while the rest (54 per cent) agreed with the second. Women and adults under the age of 34 were more likely to choose the second statement, at 62 and 63 per cent, respectively.

• The year of the graves: How the world’s media got it wrong on residential school graves
• B.C. First Nation now referring to 215 suspected graves as 'anomalies' instead of 'children'

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