Remains of two girls who died at residential school brought home to Łutselk'e, N.W.T.

The remains of two girls who died at residential school in Fort Resolution, N.W.T., in the 1940s have been brought home to their community in Łútselk'e and laid to rest next to family members.

Deninu Kųę́ First Nation Chief Louis Balsillie escorted Denise Boucher and Alice Abel's small wooden caskets by plane on Thursday morning. The remains were then driven to a graveyard next to the Snowdrift River, where burial ceremonies were held for each.

Denise Boucher died in August 1943 at age eight after her apron caught fire at the residential school. According to her death certificate, she died from burn injuries. A new plaque on her grave cross indicates she was born in June 1935, correcting an old plaque that showed her age at death as seven—a discrepancy attributed to poor record-keeping.

Alice Abel died at age 13. She was the sister of a community member's father, making her an aunt to relatives who never had the chance to meet her. "I just want to meet her, how she's like, who she looks like," said Therese Abel, who learned about Alice only a few years ago when the repatriation team contacted her for a DNA sample.

Deninu Kųę́ First Nation has been working to map graves of children who died at residential school, a process involving research, records, and DNA testing. Diane Giroux, a First Nation councillor, said the work identifies where children were from and notifies families. Some families prefer remains are not disturbed. The First Nation has repatriated remains three times so far.

Brother Edouard Prince, part of the Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate, led both burial ceremonies. As he prayed, a strong breeze moved through the cemetery—a sign Therese took comfort in. "They're happy where they are now, rest in peace."