38-year-old woman arrested after memorial to residential school victims was set on fire: police

WARNING: This story contains details readers may find distressing.

Brantford police have arrested a woman after reports that a memorial commemoratingIndigenous children who died at residential schools was set on fire.

Police say surveillance footage showed someone arriving at theWoodland Cultural Centre the site of a former residential school around 10:30 p.m. on Friday. For over four hours, the person appeared to set itemscommemorating the victims on fire.

Children's shoes wereplaced in front of the Woodland Cultural Centreafter the remains of an estimated 215 children were detectedinunmarked graves near the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C.,in May.

• Do you have information about residential schools? Email your tips to WhereAreThey@cbc.ca.

Other communities have since detected more graves. Most recently, the Penelakut Tribe in B.C.'s Southern Gulf Islands said itfound more than 160 "undocumented and unmarked"graves in the area of the formerKuper Island Residential School.

Brantford police say they received a tip about a possible suspect on Tuesday. A 38-year-old Brantford woman has been charged with mischief under $5,000.

She has been released from custody and will appear in court.

Brantford police and Six Nations Police Service say they are thanking the public for their help in circulating the surveillance photo on social media.

"This was instrumental in locating and identifying the person believed responsible for this crime," said a media release.

Support is available for anyone affected by the lingering effects of residential schoolsand those who are triggered by the latest reports. TheIndian Residential School Survivors Societycan be contacted toll-freeat1-800-721-0066.

A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to providesupportfor residential school survivorsand others affected. People can access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line: 1-866-925-4419.

Do you have information about unmarked graves, children who never came home or residential school staff and operations? Email your tips to CBC's new Indigenous-led team investigating residential schools:WhereAreThey@cbc.ca.