Content warning: This post contain information about residential schools. Mental health support is available.
In May 2021, Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc shared that 215 potential unmarked graves were detected through ground–penetrating radar at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. For Indigenous communities, this reflected truths that Survivors, Knowledge Keepers, and community members had carried for generations. For many non-Indigenous people, it became a starting point for learning about the true history and ongoing impacts of residential schools in Canada.
The 215+ Pledge is a call to action to “Do Something” to make sure the children who never returned home are remembered and that the experiences of Survivors, families, and communities impacted by residential schools are honoured. It is a commitment to truth, reflection, accountability, and action.
Understanding this history also means understanding the language connected to it. What does “ground penetrating radar” mean? Why do we say “potential unmarked graves”? Why are some communities choosing different approaches to investigations and remembrance? And what role can non-Indigenous people play in supporting this work?
Here’s what you need to know:
Why is it called the 215+ Pledge?
The number 215 refers to the announcement made by Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc in May 2021 that 215 potential unmarked graves had been detected using ground–penetrating radar at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School site. The announcement sparked grief, reflection, and renewed conversations about the truths of residential schools throughout the country.
While the number 215 has become deeply symbolic, it is not representative of the total number of children who died within the residential school system. It is one part of a much larger history of loss, one that communities, Survivors, and families have long spoken about.
What is ground-penetrating radar (GPR)?
Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is a non-invasive technology that uses radio waves to identify disturbances or anomalies below the surface of the ground. It does not produce images of human remains, but it can identify reflections of interest or soil disturbances that may be consistent with burial sites.
GPR has become an important tool in investigations at former residential school sites. However, it cannot confirm the presence or absence of human remains on its own. Further analysis and community-led decision-making are required.
What does “potential unmarked graves” mean?
This term refers to anomalies identified through GPR data that are consistent with burial sites but have not been physically confirmed through excavation or exhumation. The word “potential” reflects the limitations of the technology and the need for additional investigation.
At the same time, many Indigenous communities emphasize that these are not simply “potential” graves. Survivors and families have long shared knowledge about children who never returned home from residential schools.
What are “reflections of interest”?
Reflections of interest are signals identified through GPR that have traits commonly associated with burial sites seen in published scientific literature. In many cases, reflections of interest have aligned with oral histories and community knowledge regarding where children may have been buried.
While these findings do not provide absolute certainty, they are significant and are treated with care and seriousness by communities leading this work.
Why do many people use the word “recovery” instead of “discovery”?
Many Indigenous people and organizations use the word “recovery” rather than “discovery” because Survivors and communities have always known children died at residential schools and that burial sites existed.
Using the word “discovery” can erase or diminish the knowledge Indigenous communities have carried for generations. “Recovery” acknowledges the ongoing process of bringing truth, memory, dignity, and accountability into public awareness.
Why are ground searches only happening at some residential school sites?
There were more than 140 residential schools throughout Canada, and each site carries its own history and impacts. Ground searches are community-led processes that involve emotional, cultural, spiritual, logistical, and financial considerations.
Some communities may choose to move forward with ground searches, while others may prioritize ceremony, oral history, archival work, or other approaches to remembrance and healing. Communities must also determine what feels appropriate and manageable based on their own protocols, capacity, and readiness.
This work must continue to be led by Indigenous communities and carried out according to their direction.
How many graves have been recovered at residential school sites so far?
Thousands of potential unmarked graves have been identified at former residential school sites throughout Canada, and investigations continue in many communities. However, the full number may never be known due to incomplete records, site disturbances, and differing community approaches regarding excavation and confirmation.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission estimated that at least 6,000 children died while attending residential schools, though many researchers and communities believe the true number is significantly higher.
Have there been any consequences or prison time for residential school abusers?
Some individuals connected to the residential school system have faced criminal charges, but relatively few convictions and prison sentences have occurred. Many Survivors and families continue to speak about the lack of accountability surrounding the harms caused by residential schools and related institutions.
For many communities, justice also involves truth-telling, reparations, institutional change, and ongoing support for Survivors and intergenerational healing.
How can I support ground searches as a non-Indigenous person who wants to help?
This history impacts everyone in Canada, and non-Indigenous people have a responsibility to engage with it in meaningful ways.
Here are some ways to support:
- Support community-led initiatives and fundraising efforts connected to investigations, ceremonies, memorials, and healing work.
- Advocate for sustained funding and long-term support for communities leading investigations and remembrance work.
- Learn from Indigenous voices. Read the TRC’s Final Report and 94 Calls to Action. Listen to Survivors. Follow Indigenous educators, Knowledge Keepers, and community organizations, including Survivors, educators, Knowledge Keepers, authors, and organizations.
- Respect community leadership and understand that each Nation may choose different approaches to healing and remembrance.
- Continue conversations in your home, workplace, classroom, and community rather than turning away from difficult truths.
The Bottom Line
The 215+ Pledge starts with a number, but it does not end there. It is a commitment to #DoSomething to ensure the children who never returned home are remembered, that Survivors and communities are honoured, and that people throughout Canada continue learning, reflecting, and taking action toward meaningful reconciliation.
