A craft activity Wednesday, April 13, will observe the passing of a year since the discovery of mass graves at a site in British Columbia near the former St. Eugene’s Mission Residential School.

To date, an estimated 10,028 unmarked graves have been found at former residential school sites across the country.

Anishinaabe Kwe Deborah Plain will lead an April 13 beading circle for students, faculty, and staff to bead an orange teddy bear pin.

“This will be a visual memorial to remember our survivors and the children who did not return home,” says Plain.

She says the pins become a chance to educate people.

“When they ask why I am wearing it, I will share some of the history of the residential schools,” she says. “I don’t want Canada and Canadians to forget what happened to our Indigenous children.”

Organized by the Paul Martin Law Library, the session will be held via Blackboard from 6 to 8 p.m. Beading kits will be provided to 12 registrants from the UWindsor community, with priority given to students.

Register by April 6 so the kits can be distributed in advance of the April 13 event.