National Site Search Forum 2025
Thank you to the Reclamation and Healing department at Nishnawbe Aski Nation for inviting us to be part of this year’s National Site Search Forum in Ottawa.
The forum was an opportunity to learn from communities across the country about how they are undertaking the sacred work of locating the missing and disappeared children from Indian Residential Schools. We engaged in meaningful conversations about how we can better collaborate and share knowledge. Thank you to all the communities and research teams who contributed their insights.
We worked alongside community researchers to problem-solve challenges related to archival research, discussing ways to access restricted records, build research databases, and identify alternative sources when gaps exist in the archival record.
We were honoured to hear from Survivors, Elders, and families who shared powerful truths about the ongoing impacts of Indian Residential Schools, and how revealing those truths can support healing and justice.
Kimberly Murray spoke about important upcoming developments that will bring international attention to these crimes through the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances and the Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal.
The Wakanhezan Wokiksuye Makoce team led a micro-workshop at Major’s Hill Park, offering a closer look at the use of ground penetrating radar (GPR) and drones in site search work. We also met two skilled historic human remains detection dogs and learned more about how they support site searches for unmarked burials.
Our friends at the Survivors’ Secretariat, Roberta Hill and Eric Patterson, emphasized the importance of involving young people in community search efforts and building long-term capacity through training.
The Forum offered a meaningful opportunity to listen, build connections, and contribute to ongoing community-led efforts.
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