Dear members of the McGill community,
As we return to campus for the beginning of the fall semester, I wish to provide an important update on the New Vic Project.
Investigative work has continued in recent weeks to determine whether there are unmarked graves on the site of the former Royal Victoria Hospital. This work was guided by the recommendations of an independent panel of archeologists on the appropriate archeological techniques to be used on different areas of the site, in full accordance with the settlement agreement McGill University, the Société québécoise des infrasctructures and other parties concluded in April of this year with the Kanien’keha:ka Kahnistensera, also known as the Mohawk Mothers.
Throughout this process, McGill has been, and remains, firmly committed to the goal it believes all parties share: finding the truth as to whether there are unmarked graves at the site of the former Royal Victoria Hospital.
Investigation of the area identified by the Historic Human Remains Detection Dogs (HHRDD) survey as potentially containing human remains is near completion. The archeological work was conducted in the presence of cultural monitors appointed by the Mohawk Mothers, and was overseen by archeologists recommended by the panel of experts. To date, no human remains have been found. Investigation of the nine areas identified by ground-penetrating radar as displaying characteristics that could potentially be consistent with graves is set to begin next week.
Since concluding the agreement, McGill has gone beyond its legal and contractual obligations and has worked with the SQI to respect the wishes of the Mohawk Mothers as fully as possible in carrying out the work. McGill is also endeavouring to sustain and deepen conversations about the New Vic project with local Mohawk communities. We are mindful that at the same time as we have legal obligations to the Mothers, we must respect and remain accountable to the longstanding governance structure of the Rotinonhsón:ni Confederacy, which is supported by both duly elected and hereditary leaders. McGill remains committed to continuing to be in full compliance with the existing agreement.
I encourage members of the McGill community who would like more information to consult this FAQ page, which includes the settlement agreement signed with the Mohawk Mothers and more details on the processes that are being followed to conduct the investigation. Regular updates on the project will be shared in the weeks to come.
While we hope the investigation will confirm that the site contains no unmarked graves, I wish to assure the McGill community that should human remains be discovered, all excavation work will be suspended immediately in accordance with the terms of the agreement.
With best regards,
Christopher Manfredi
Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic)