63% of Canadians Seek More Evidence on Unmarked Residential School Graves, Angus Reid Poll Reveals

A recent Angus Reid Institute survey indicates that 63% of Canadians, including 56% of Indigenous respondents, believe additional evidence, such as excavation, is necessary to confirm claims of unmarked graves at former residential school sites. This finding comes as Juno News, an independent Canadian media outlet co-founded by Candice Malcolm and Keean Bexte, celebrates its six-month anniversary, having consistently questioned the established narrative surrounding these sites.

The poll, conducted in late July 2025, highlights a significant public desire for verification regarding the soil anomalies initially reported at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in May 2021. Despite initial reports of 215 children's remains, the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation later clarified the findings as "anomalies" or "potential unmarked burials." To date, no human remains have been confirmed or exhumed at the site, though the federal government has allocated over $12 million for investigations.

Candice Malcolm, co-founder of Juno News and a prominent voice in independent media, has been a vocal skeptic of the initial claims since 2021. According to a Juno News social media post, "almost two-thirds of the country shares Candice’s questions and skepticism," underscoring the outlet's influence on public discourse. Juno News, launched in February 2025 by Malcolm and Keean Bexte, positions itself as an alternative to what it terms "legacy media," emphasizing fact-based journalism and free speech.

The Angus Reid survey also revealed that while a majority of Canadians (68%) agree that residential schools constituted "cultural genocide," there is strong opposition to criminalizing "residential school denialism." Approximately 62% of Canadians oppose such legislation, a sentiment echoed by Juno News, which frequently critiques government-funded initiatives and what it perceives as attempts to control information. The poll results suggest a growing demand among Canadians for transparency and verified information on sensitive historical issues.