Burial site dedicated

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A new monument marks the location of a traditional Enoch burial site located within the City of Edmonton.

The burial site, located between 199 St. and the new Anthony Henday Dr., south of Whitemud Dr., has been used by the Enoch Cree Nation since the 1800s. Enoch First Nation's first leader, Chief Enoch Lapotac, is among the people buried there. Chief Leroy Andrea from the Northwest Territories visited Enoch early this month and said he had ancestors buried there too.

The project initiated by the First Nation was discussed and co-ordinated by Chief Ronald Morin, councillor Glen Peacock and Gary Brownlee of Alberta Infrastructure. The wording for the monument was selected by Enoch's operations manager and project co-ordinator Irene Morin, after consulting with the Elders. Prior to a ceremony to rededicate the grounds, the site was beautified and fenced.

The ceremony at the burial site was held Aug. 25. Two days earlier, the monument was placed with Elders Mabel Calder, Richard Cardinal, Nellie Cardinal, Violet Peacock, Irene Sharphead, Lillian Peacock and Lillian Ward in attendance. They were brought to the site by Brighter Futures Initiative co-ordinator Lorraine Ward.

"We were very pleased with the monument and the significance of this historic day," Chief Morin said in a statement released Aug. 23.

Morin said the City of Edmonton and Alberta Infrastructure have been "extremely respectful and co-operative" regarding the burial site, and have given assurances that no graves will be disturbed.