Former Pelican Lake IRS, former Sioux Lookout Zone Indian Hospital grounds to be searched

Tim Brody - Editor

An important event for the region is taking place in Lac Seul First Nation (LSFN) today (July 14).

LSFN is hosting the Bring Our Children Home Gathering and bringing together former Indian Residential School survivors, forensic experts, and church and government officials to determine the next steps in moving forward with the search for missing children on the grounds and surrounding area of the former Pelican Lake Indian Residential School (IRS) and former Sioux Lookout Zone Indian Hospital. 

LSFN shared the information in a Memorandum to Sioux Lookout area Chiefs on June 30, which has since been made public.

LSFN added that, “Working with Northern Nishnawbe Education Council and Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority, we are planning to search the former Pelican Lake Indian Residential School located in the Treaty #3 territory and traditional territory of Lac Seul First Nation.”

The Bring Our Children Home Gathering will include a sunrise ceremony at the Residential School Memorial Site on the grounds of Pelican Falls First Nations High School, honouring the former Indian Residential School survivors and families at the Lac Seul Events Centre and planning with forensic experts and government officials, also at the Lac Seul Events Centre.

“Lac Seul First Nation is honoured and privileged to lead the work for many of the families in the northern communities and for communities across the Province of Ontario in locating missing children who attended the former Pelican Lake Indian Residential School,” LSFN shared in the Memorandum. 

Live streaming was made available so communities could be engaged in the event.