In 1943, young Johnny Kiyawasew passed away at a hospital in northern Alberta, far from his Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation home, after being sent to St. Francis Xavier Residential School in Calais. His family was kept in the dark about his death for many years. Robert Kiyawasew, Johnny’s brother, expressed disappointment that the church did not inform their father about Johnny’s passing.

After a prolonged search, Johnny’s gravesite was discovered in 2013 by his sister Roseann with the help of a private investigator. Johnny died of pulmonary tuberculosis at a hospital in High Prairie, where he was laid to rest, a considerable distance from the residential school.

Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation and the University of Alberta are conducting extensive research to unveil the untold stories of children like Johnny who attended residential schools but never returned home. Chief Sheldon Sunshine highlighted that many children at St. Francis Xavier succumbed to tuberculosis and malnutrition, emphasizing the human impact of these tragedies.

Robert Kiyawasew expressed gratitude that his sister located Johnny’s grave before her passing and now visits it regularly. As a survivor of a day school, Robert shared his own experiences of cultural suppression and emphasized the importance of preserving Indigenous heritage.

Research difficulties were highlighted by Raymond Frogner from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, who pointed out the challenges of accessing and verifying residential school records due to disorganization and inconsistencies. Church records are often inaccessible or incomplete, complicating efforts to trace the fates of students.

Sunshine lamented the roadblocks faced by researchers trying to uncover the truth about children who never returned from St. Francis Xavier. The First Nation remains committed to piecing together these stories to provide closure and address intergenerational trauma within the community.