The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Executive is calling on all levels of Government to align with First Nations in leading an investigation for unidentified remains of children who didn’t make it home from Indian Residential Schools across Saskatchewan and Canada.

FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron says, “We understand the enormous loss, and mourn with the families affected by the 215 children found in Kamloops. We know that thousands of First Nations children did not make it home and were buried without any markers or outcry from the public.” Cameron says. “We will not allow government to continue to ignore these lost children.”

The FSIN Executive wants radar ground searches done in Saskatchewan. The organization says they have been informed that Indian residential School sites here, including Muskowekwan, Onion Lake St. Anthony’s, Beauval, Guy Hill, Lebret, Sturgeon Landing and many more have potential mass graves.

Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation near Kamloops hired a specialist in ground-penetrating radar to carry out the work which was funded through a Pathway to Healing provincial government grant. The First Nation’s language and culture department oversaw the project to ensure it was conducted in a respectful way.

The City of Saskatoon says that, to recognize and honour the memory of the 215 children, flags at all City-owned facilities, are being lowered to half-mast. Flags will remain at half-mast until Thursday.

Mayor Charlie Clark says, “We are lowering our flags to honour these children and also the thousands of other children who died at residential schools across Canada, many right here in Saskatchewan.”

City Council will also observe one minute of silence to honour all residential school victims at its meeting Monday.

The city encourages Saskatoon residents, along with City Council and all City employees, to wear orange today, to honour those children lost in Kamloops, the 4,000 children who are still missing, and their families.