A “ghost hunt” broadcast on a YouTube channel, a dozen caravans arriving for the filming of a horror film, amateur archaeologists looking for artifacts without authorization: Aboriginal activists are concerned about the back and forth comes near a historic site possibly containing anonymous burials, on the side of Mount Royal.
This site is adjacent to the Allan Memorial Institute and the former Royal Victoria Hospital, which McGill University is in the process of converting into an $850 million research facility. This place steeped in history must be excavated to verify the possible presence of anonymous graves of patients who received experimental psychiatric treatment in the middle of the last century.
According to what The duty has learned, Mohawk activists in Kahnawake are concerned about growing public interest in this site where humans may have been unceremoniously buried.
“There are people looking for ghosts, others walking around with metal detectors. It’s a big disrespect [envers les possibles victimes] said Kwetiio, who is part of the Mohawk Mothers, this Kahnawake group having won a victory in Superior Court to have archaeological research carried out on this site.
A video about “paranormal investigations” released last month on YouTube is deemed “disturbing” by the Mohawk Mothers. The animators notably cross the fence surrounding an abandoned swimming pool, identified as a place populated by “spirits”, where unburied bodies would rest. This video has been viewed over 14,000 times.
The producers of the video are sensitive to the Aboriginal cause. In their film, they wish that the alleged spirits “rest in peace”. They also take care, on their YouTube channel, to apologize for having referred to Aboriginal people as “indigenous”, a term deemed inappropriate in French. At the time of this writing, it had been impossible to speak to the producers of the video.
Even if visitors to the historic site are not ill-intentioned, the Mohawk Mothers fear that the presence of a crowd of onlookers at this historic place will disturb the solemnity of the place — or even the integrity of the archaeological site.
Trailers and holes
Under a Superior Court decision, a team of three archaeologists is conducting a soil survey near this pool — as well as elsewhere around the Allan Memorial Institute and the former Royal Victoria Hospital — to determine if the places conceal anonymous burials of native children or of other origins.
The outcome of these studies will determine whether further archaeological excavations will be carried out in the coming weeks, our sources say.
The filming of a horror film near this historic site also disturbs Mohawk activists. A dozen trailers housing equipment and personnel are parked in a parking lot near the Allan Memorial Institute. The film crew obtained a permit from the borough of Ville-Marie, confirm our sources. A staff member said the filming did not interfere with any archaeological sites.
According to our information, another incident worries indigenous activists: amateur archaeologists dug without authorization on the historic site in the hope of finding pottery or other traces of human occupation. This unexpected visit would not have threatened the integrity of the archaeological site, but the Mohawk Mothers are calling for a tightening of security measures there. Their call has been heard.
Protect archaeological excavations
The Société québécoise des infrastructures (SQI), owner of the premises, has taken a series of measures to preserve the integrity of the archaeological site. Following “isolated events that took place near the old swimming pool”, the fence was repaired, says Francis Martel, spokesperson for the SQI.
Signage has been improved to indicate that this is a prohibited area. The lighting has been improved and a motion detector has been installed in this area. Patrol officers were ordered to make additional rounds to monitor the area around the pool.
“The SQI takes the security of the site very seriously and will not accept any action that could jeopardize future excavations,” said the spokesperson. Having recently owned the site, the SQI management team is evaluating how the security protocols could be strengthened. »
The government agency is responsible for ensuring the security of the site “while allowing public access to the entire site”, located close to Olmstead Road, on the side of Mount Royal.
The SQI specifies that a contract for the temporary occupation of the parking lot for an “off-site” filming was granted by the McGill University Health Center (MUHC) before the SQI took possession of the place. . Our sources say it’s the movie witch board, a cover of a work from 1986. This filming must be completed by the end of May. The SQI “ensures a limited impact of this occupation”.
For its part, McGill University says it is “aware of the delicate nature” of the public’s presence on this historic site for the group Kanien’kehá:ka Kahnistensera (Mohawk Mothers). The establishment also recognizes “increased security risks caused by the public nature of the legal proceedings. The University will continue to work closely with the SQI and the Kanien’kehá:ka Kahnistensera group to ensure the protection of the site. »