Hundreds of unmarked graves found at former Saskatchewan residential school

Facebook/Cowessess First Nation

Officials have made another gruesome discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at the site of the former Marieval Indian Residential School in Marieval, Saskatchewan.

There are also marked graves at the site.

It was operational from 1899 to 1997.

The school was first run by four sisters of the Congregation of Our Lady of the Missions and subsequently by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Saint-Hyacinthe from 1901 to 1979. The running of the school was transferred from the Roman Catholic Church to the government of Canada in 1969.

The total number of graves is expected to be over three times higher than the 215 discovered in Kamloops last month. More details are expected today.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe expressed his support in a written statement.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford tweeted "My heart aches for Indigenous communities with news of more unmarked grave sites and hundreds more children who never returned home. We must confront and learn from this horrific side of history, including here in Ontario, so families may find the closure they deserve."

Perry Bellegarde, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, wrote in a tweet that the discovery was "absolutely tragic, but not surprising".

In Saskatoon, the city's flags are planned to be lowered to half-mast today.