Search dogs find evidence of human remains buried on grounds of Montreal’s old Royal Victoria Hospital

Cadaver dogs identified what is being called “evidence of human remains” on the grounds of the old Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal. The findings were presented in Quebec Superior Court on Thursday morning as work is being done to determine if there are unmarked graves in an area where McGill University wants to build its New Vic project – an academic centre.

The discovery is part of a search that was conducted as part of an agreement between the Kanien’keha:ka Kahnistensera, a group, known as the Mohawk Mothers, and McGill University.

“The first thing that went through my mind,” said Kwetiio, one of the Mohawk Mothers, taking a breath and through tears, “was it’s unfortunate that that’s there. We have to wait to decide what’s going to happen, the panel everything has to be investigated thoroughly before we can, but it’s very unfortunate that within one morning that we already have come to a discovery.”

In recent weeks, three teams, each with a dog and a handler, surveyed the grounds of the old Royal Victoria.

“Not only these children’s lives matter, but also their deaths matter, their deaths are a way to carry on our society to be a better society and to learn what has happened, history, and make sure that this is never done to anyone again,” said Kwetiio. “We’re looking to see a full report. […] Everything has halted for the moment until we have some clarifications on further issues that we have.”

“It is very significant because all the work that we are doing we were guided by other individuals in our community and the things that they say, and often hearsay and stories passed down, which is the way we conduct ourselves, are not taken as seriously,” continued Kwetiio. “And this gives those people some kind of comfort in knowing that someone will look at what they say seriously and we can find some answers”

The Mohawk Mothers are concerned that McGill wasn’t providing sufficient security to the site and restricting access to records.

A lawyer for McGill University told the court that the school was respecting an agreement reached and that archives were being turned over. Adding that sufficient security was present at the site, and work there had stopped.

“The Indigenous security is important to us because having the defendants in charge of the security of these possible clandestine burials is a major conflict of interest and this is something that we are not willing to risk. To us it is a risk – you know when you want something done, you have to do it yourself,” said Kwettiio.

Old Royal Victoria Hospital site in Montreal, searches for possible unmarked graves ongoing. June 29, 2023 (CREDIT: Martin Daigle, CityNews Image)

Old Royal Victoria Hospital site in Montreal, searches for possible unmarked graves ongoing. June 29, 2023 (CREDIT: Martin Daigle, CityNews Image)

BACKGROUND:

• Mohawk Mothers, McGill reach agreement to search former Montreal hospital for possible unmarked graves
• Quebec judge says McGill work halted to avoid ‘irreparable harm’ to Mohawk plaintiffs
• Mohawk mother speaks on judge order to stop excavation work at Montreal’s Allan Memorial Institute

“On that day, I guess in the moment, I didn’t realize how truly momentous that was going to be,” said Karonhianoron, a McGill archaeology student appointed by the Mohawk Mothers to monitor the searches.

Explaining that the dogs are trained using decaying soft tissue and decaying bone, human bone, and they’re trained in cemeteries. Their scent detection can go up to six feet underground.

All three dogs gave a signal when they came near the same stretch of wall near the Hersey Pavilion. It was the hospital’s nurses residence.

“It felt very surreal. On one hand, it’s for me, it wasn’t unexpected, but I guess to have concrete evidence that you can show to people who don’t know, maybe the whole story about this place, about the Royal Vic and the Allan [Memorial Institute] – that was very just powerful for me to sit with.”

The agreement to search the grounds came in April between the Mohawk Mothers, McGill, the government of Quebec and the city of Montreal. It was made after a civil lawsuit was filed in March 2022 that sought to halt the development of the Royal Victoria site – which argued that unmarked graves may be on or near the site. Last October the group obtained an injunction ordering a pause on excavation work.

A CIA-funded brainwashing experiment was conducted there in the 1950s and 1960s.

The Mohawk Mothers say the site may also house archeological remains from the first pre-colonial Iroquois village.

(CREDIT: Martin Daigle, CityNews Image)

“Something needs to be done for those children,” said Kahentinetha, also a Mohawk Mother. “We need people to keep on encouraging us and standing with us. Now we have found this…it’s no longer just hearsay. Now, we know that there is something there, so we really would appreciate the public becoming more and more aware of it and, and standing with us.”

Evidence of human remains found at the site means that agreement now needs updating and the parties are expected to each submit responses on July 14 to the court in writing.

“We are putting out a call to family members or youngsters at the time,[if] they heard of any kind of information actually can come to some type of evidence. So that’s important to us. And it’s also important for people that knew about this to get it off of their shoulders as well. So all facets of this investigation is important,” added Kwetiio. “It’s not just about good and bad. It’s about helping, helping everyone to unload what their what they’re holding on to.”

“Somebody has to be, some entity has to be, held responsible to take care of this – and that’s important,” ended Kwetiio. “There can’t be a blank there for the rest of time. It needs to be resolved. And that’s important. It’s important for people. Everyone is important.”