| Sourced from 4 independent sources (5 reports) · 1 point in dispute |
bdnmb.ca, aptnnews.ca, cbc.ca, and europesays.com
Sources agree on most key facts but differ on 1 point.
8 key facts · 8 corroborated · 1 disputed
Where sources differ
The year the cemetery was reported to have started being used (1895 vs. 1896 vs. 1985).
bdnmb.ca: Historical records indicate the cemetery where children were buried was used from 1895 to 1912.
cbc.ca: The burial site was believed to have been used between 1896 and 1912.
aptnnews.ca: A news release says the cemetery was used from 1985 to 1912.
Why some reports were counted once
aptnnews.ca and brandonsun.com — the same Canadian Press report, counted once.
When several outlets publish the identical article — most often because they all ran the same wire story from an agency like The Canadian Press — we count it as one source, not several. That keeps our source count a measure of independent reporting, not how widely a single story was syndicated.
This summary is compiled from the independent sources listed above.
Manitoba is partnering with the City of Brandon to acquire Turtle Crossing Campground, a property tied to a cemetery associated with the former Brandon Indian Residential School.
Premier Wab Kinew announced the move, saying the site’s future will be directed by residential school survivors and affected First Nations. “This land contains the buried remains of children who attended the Brandon Indian Residential School and their existence has been documented for more than 100 years,” Kinew said.
A cemetery beneath the campground
Historical records indicate the cemetery was used until 1912. In 1921, the grave markers were removed when the area was converted into a park.
The land was sold and developed as Turtle Crossing Campground in 2001, later becoming privately owned.
The acquisition follows research that has brought the site’s history into sharper focus. Geophysical work and other research have identified 56 potential gravesites at Turtle Crossing, and the property is believed to hold the graves of at least 56 children.
“These graves have been known about since long before the invention of ground-penetrating radar,” Kinew said.
For Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak, the announcement is a long-sought recognition of the site’s sacred significance. Grand Chief Garrison Settee said the acquisition acknowledges the burial place of First Nations children, including “56 ancestors from eight nations in the MKO region.”
“We are grateful for the relentless advocacy of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation,” Settee said. “Finally, after many years, we can uphold our responsibilities to those who came before us and preserve this sacred place for generations to come.”
Survivors will guide the next steps
Kinew said future decisions about Turtle Crossing will be guided by survivors, affected First Nations and advocacy groups.
That commitment leaves the next phase in the hands of the people and communities with the closest connection to the children buried there. The province has described the acquisition as part of its commitment to truth, reconciliation and the protection of residential school burial sites.
The task is not simply a property transaction, but a decision about how a place of burial should be protected, cared for and remembered.
Indigenous-led search work planned
Sioux Valley Dakota Nation has said any search of the area will be Indigenous-led, using specialized non-invasive methods and community knowledge.
Chief Jennifer Bone said technical expertise and the knowledge held by communities will shape the work at every stage.
“This is important work for our nation and for Indigenous Peoples across Canada,” Bone said. “Sioux Valley Dakota Nation’s investigation is Indigenous led, with specialized support for a careful, non-invasive search.”
She said the approach will be guided by “respect for the children, their families and this sacred site.”
Memorial planned for Orange Shirt Day
Kinew is set to dedicate a memorial at the site on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day.
The ceremony will place a public marker at a location where the evidence of burial has long been documented, but where the grave markers were removed more than a century ago.
The acquisition now creates a path for survivors and affected First Nations to determine what protection, commemoration and further work should look like at Turtle Crossing Campground.
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