On August 14, a plaque was unveiled at the Regina Indian Industrial School (RIIS) Cemetery in recognition of the Saskatchewan government’s official designation of the site as a provincial heritage property.
This dedication was preceded by years of work by the RIIS Commemorative Association, which also resulted in the cemetery receiving municipal heritage status in September 2016.
The cemetery contains the graves of at least 35 Indigenous children from communities across Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba who died while attending the RIIS.
The RIIS was operated by The Presbyterian Church in Canada between 1891 and 1910.
Preservation work will continue at the cemetery site. The fence around the cemetery is falling apart in sections, and a new one will be built. There are plans to perform further searches for grave sites beyond the fence’s boundaries as well.
The RIIS Commemorative Association will also continue their efforts to identify those who are buried in the cemetery. Currently, they believe they have identified around 20 of the children buried there.
We give thanks for the RIIS Commemorative Association’s work to ensure that the cemetery is always protected and the children are never forgotten.
Learn more about the dedication and the work of the RIIS here:
Regina Indian Industrial School cemetery designated a provincial heritage property, Global News