CHAPLEAU EXPRESS
Local News Weekly
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Vol. 29, Issue 47, July 31, 2025
705 - 864 - 0911
Detection dogs to search former residential school site near Chapleau
Multiple First Nations are working together on the investigation By Marissa Lentz-McGrath embers of three First Nations are working together to investigate the grounds of the former St. John’s Residential School. From Aug. 1 to 3, historic human remains detection dogs (HHRDD) will comb through heavily overgrown areas near the site slightly southeast of Chapleau. The search is part of an ongoing initiative led by survivors and supported by Chapleau Cree First Nation, Chapleau Ojibwe First Nation, and Brunswick House First Nation. “We’re mostly led by the survivors group, which we call the survivors working circle,” said Deanna Dixon, residential school initiative lead for Chapleau Cree First Nation. “It also includes intergenerational survivors, but we're also led by our communities and our respective chief and councils as well.” Dixon said work began with research and protocols in 2023, followed by on-the-ground search activities starting in 2024. The team has since employed a layered, non-invasive approach combining drone-based LiDAR, groundpenetrating radar, multispectral imaging, and now, detection dogs. “The HHRDD is another highly sought method because they can detect human remains Long Term historically, up to over Forecast 150 years,” she said. Thursday “That was of High 20 particular interest to us Low 10 because of the timeline Friday of when St. John's had High 22 Low 12 existed.” There are two Saturday
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known sites: the first operated from 1907 to 1919 slightly southeast from the Township of Chapleau (Site A), and the second from 1920 to 1948 south of the township (Site B). Due to dense tree cover and natural overgrowth, using radar at the first location proved difficult. That's where the HHRDD comes in. “At the first site, we're using the HHRDD dogs because it's really overgrown,” said Adrienne Beaupre, the initiative’s community coordinator. “It isn't beneficial to use the GPR there when there's large tree growth and stumps and because it's been so long. It's more appropriate to use them on the first site to help us find and hone in on these points of interest.”
The work is personal for both women. For both women, the work is deeply personal. “My grandfather, Michael Cachagee, was Cont’d on P.2
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