On August 31, 2022, the Survivors’ Secretariat opened its doors to the community to provide a Year in Review.
The Year in Review event was open to community members of impacted communities and invited guests. The event included a presentation on what has been accomplished in the past year in terms of archival research, ground search efforts, advocacy, and commemoration.
“One of the main objectives of the Survivors’ Secretariat is to help build relationships – with Survivors, their families, the community at large, and with youth – learning to work with each other as we all come together to help the Survivors get the answers they need,” said Laura Arndt, Secretariat Lead.
Following the presentation, local representatives, community organizations and community members had the opportunity to network with one another and Survivors over a luncheon featuring traditional Indigenous foods. Additional information, archival pictures, search area maps and the Survivor Secretariat’s Mini Documentary about the Significance of the Apple Trees were displayed throughout the space for invited guests to view.
The event concluded with food and conversation.
Announcement of Documents & Records
During the event, the Secretariat announced that through its archival research with Know History, they have documented 97 deaths associated with the Mohawk Institute which is double the original 48 documented deaths reported on the NCTR website.
“Some of the names associated with the new death total are currently held in restrictive databases. The Secretariat and Know History are working on agreements to gain open access to these files,” said Know History.
“We are working on establishing a culturally informed protocol to notify families and communities of identified child deaths before releasing the information on our website,” said Laura Arndt.
Know History has confirmed that 16 of the 97 documented deaths have no name attached to the documentation on the child’s death other than their gender, approximate age and the fact that they were in association with Mohawk Institute.
Survivors’ Secretariat will be sharing these files with the Police Task Force to further investigate the burials of these identified children.
If you have any information that can assist with the identifications of unmarked burials please contact the Police Task Force: 1-888-523-8587
News Stories Related to the August Open House
- Mohawk Institute Residential School: Survivors find almost 100 children died there – The Turtle Island News
- Documents reveal greater number of child deaths at Mohawk Institute
- Survivors’ Secretariat identifies 97 deaths in connection to former Brantford residential school
- Nearly 100 deaths linked to Brantford residential school, survivors say
- The Survivors’ Secretariat Welcomed the Community and Invited Guests to a Year in Review Open House
- Survivors’ Secretariat reveals 97 deaths associated with former Brantford residential school