A vigil was held Saturday to honour those buried in unmarked graves on the site of a former residential school on the Cowessess First Nation.

751 individual lights were placed near the flags marking each individual grave.

The ceremony started with a ceremonial smudge and prayer and centered around a tipi built by elders protecting a sacred fire to honour those lost.  The lights were donated by local businesses.

The vigil comes as efforts to scan the grounds continue, with officials saying they’re unable to identify who exactly is buried there.  The community will have feast with the sprits Sunday, allowing them to finally go home to the spirit world.

(CKRM)