TransparencyOversight & ethics enforcementDiscrimination & civil rights

Radar survey at the former Kamloops residential school found about 200 probable unmarked burials of children, and the Tk'emlups community said the deaths were never documented

Confidence: Confirmed · 3 sourcesCanada · Oct 12, 2026

Subject of this story

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC)

Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI Lacombe Canada)

Also named

Oversight

Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples (Senate of Canada)

Affected

Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation

What happened

On May 27, 2021, Tk'emlups te Secwepemc First Nation announced preliminary ground-penetrating radar findings at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, initially reported as 215 children; the nation later clarified that about 200 potential burial sites were detected. Chief Rosanne Casimir said these were 'undocumented deaths' that the community had long known about. The school operated under Canada's Indian Affairs system and was run by the Catholic Missionary Oblates. In 2024 a Senate committee report recommended that Canada legally compel Catholic entities and some government agencies to release remaining residential school records.

Sources (3)

Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation (official media release)Chief Rosanne Casimir confirmed an unthinkable loss that was spoken about but never documented by the Kamloops Indian Residential School.

CBC NewsFirst Nation says ground-penetrating radar work detected remains believed to be as many as 215 children at the former Kamloops school site.

CBC NewsSenate committee report calls on Canada to legally compel Catholic entities and federal agencies to release remaining residential school records.

Response

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC)

On-record admission

Contacted and made an on-record admission — exact wording not on record.

Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI Lacombe Canada)

On-record admission

Contacted and made an on-record admission — exact wording not on record.

What happened next (0)

No outcome recorded yet.

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