The postponement came after the discovery of animal remains.
The demolition of the former residential school building in Lower Post, British Columbia has been postponed. It was set to come down on Monday. Yukon’s Premier Sandy Silver was invited to witness the event and attend a healing ceremony. Silver says the Daylu Dena Council Deputy Chief Harlan Schilling reached out to him to let him know the demolition had been canceled.
Silver says it would have been a “profound meeting” and he looks forward to standing with the families and community members impacted by the Lower Post residential school at a later date. Silver says a lot of survivors and their family members live in the Yukon.
A press release from the Daylu Dena Council reads “The decision to postpone came after the discovery yesterday morning of animals remains at a construction site in the community. Due to the location and uncertainty of the remains upon discovery, the RCMP opened an active investigation in the community to conduct forensic analysis.”
The release goes on to say the postponement was to “prepare for the worst and best protect the well being of their members,” and “Late last night the Daylu Dena Deputy Chief and Council were relieved to receive notice from the RCMP that the remains were not human.”
Once the building is demolished, it will be replaced with a community and cultural centre. The Daylu Dena Council, the government of Canada, and the government of British Columbia have partnered together on the project. The multi-purpose building will include program rooms for beading, story telling, and elders tea. It will also feature an indoor gym, an industrial kitchen, a garden, and outdoor recreation areas. The facility will also offer office space for the Daylu Dena Council.
There’s no word on when the demolition will be rescheduled for.
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