On November 30th, 2024 Nadleh Whut’en brought together survivors from the Lejac Indian Residential School and our community to hear the preliminary results of a geophysical survey of Tseyaz Bunk’ut, the former site of the Lejac Indian Residential School. This survey was conducted by Geoscan Geophysics, and directed by the Guiding Team of the Nez Keh Hubuk'uznootah Project – which means “Let’s Look for our Children” in Dakelh.

 

The update was delivered by the Chief of Nadleh Whut’en Beverly Ketlo, Former Chief of Stellat’en First Nation Archie Patrick, Residential School Project Manager Terry Luggi, GeoScan Geophysics Senior Technician Peter Takacs, and the Guiding Team, which consists of survivors and intergenerational survivors of the Lejac Indian Residential School.

 

As many of us already knew, the preliminary findings confirm newly identified potential unmarked graves.

 

A news release from the event, and the slide show shared by Geoscan Geophysics are linked below.

 

• Lejac News Release 11.30.2024

• Geoscan Geophysics Prelminary Report 11.30.2024[RK1] [RK2] 

 

The Lejac Indian Residential School operated between 1922 and 1976 and was later demolished in the 1990s. An estimated 7,850 Indigenous children from 70+ Nations across the North and North-Central B.C attended Lejac. The Project began in 2022, and the surveys were carried out at Tseyaz Bunk’ut, Nadleh Whut’en Indian Reserve No. 4 in late 2023 and throughout 2024.

 

The Nez Keh Hubuk'uznootah Project is being advised by a Guiding Team that is made up of survivors of the Lejac Indian Residential School. They have been directing the archival work, interviews with survivors, and a geophysical survey of Tseyaz Bunk’ut, the former site of the Lejac Indian Residential School. Furthermore, to ensure that there is respect and understanding for those involved in the search process.

 [RK1]Can these be turned into buttons?

 [RK2]Maybe on the side where the photo would go?