Historic human remains found at dam site: Peguis First Nation Chief
A First Nation chief said the discovery of human remains at the St. Andrews Lock and Dam site in Lockport, Man. is further evidence of the dark history between Indigenous People and colonial policy.
In a statement issued on Friday, Peguis First Nation Chief Glenn Hudson confirmed the skeletal remains of two people were discovered at the site – and work has been stopped as a result.
According to the statement, Peguis First Nation contacted provincial archeologists to recover the remains and determine where the bones should be buried.
The statement said the skeletal remains of a teenager were discovered first, along with artifacts like bison bones and birch bark.
“It is clear from the burial site that this young person was loved and honoured at the time of their death,” Chief Hudson wrote.
Peguis First Nation said initial investigations suggest the person had tuberculosis. The statement goes on to note scholars have said infectious diseases like tuberculosis have “amounted to a ‘state-sponsored attack on Indigenous communities’ whose effects ‘haunt us as a nation still.’”
The statement said archaeologists will remain on-site to supervise further testing at the dam and to oversee any further excavation.
Shelly Glover, a candidate in the provincial PC party’s leadership race, issued a release on Saturday offering her condolences to Peguis First Nation members.
“We share the sorrow and heartbreak of Peguis First Nation over this discovery. The path to reconciliation includes hearing painful truth such as this. We must continue to walk this path side-by-side with Manitoba Indigenous people.”
CTV News has reached out to the province for comment.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.