MLAs in emotional exchanges over residential school burial sites

May 22, 2025

Caitlin Cleveland was being questioned by Tu Nedhé-Wiilideh MLA Richard Edjericon about the Deninu Kųę́ First Nation’s assertion that the territorial government is improperly applying the NWT’s Archaeological Sites Act to residential school burials. The First Nation is investigating deaths that occurred while the St Joseph’s Residential School operated in Fort Resolution, between about 1903 and 1957. Local leaders say archaeological rules are inappropriate obstacles to that work, which began in 2022. Following one question from Edjericon, who had queried whether non-Indigenous burials would be handled the same way…