Memorial to residential school victims burned in 4-hour vandalism spree in Brantford, Ont.

WARNING: This story contains details some readers may find distressing.

Brantfordpolice are looking for a vandalwho spent more than four hours Friday night damaging a memorial to Indigenous children who died at residential schools.

The lone suspect, caught on surveillance footage, arrived at the Woodland Cultural Centre inthe Ontario city at the site of a former residential school at about 10:30 p.m. ET Friday. Over the next four hours, the person set fire to numerous itemsleft thereto commemorate victims of the residential school system.

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

Soon aftertheTk'emlps te SecwpemcFirst Nationnear Kamloopsused ground-penetrating radar to discover thegraves,Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan revealed it had detected751 unmarked graves on the site of theMarieval Indian Residential School, the last such Canadian institution to close, in 1997. Other communities have since confirmed their own such tragic findings.

'Criminal acts' condemned

The Brantford crime was reported to police on Saturday, and patrol officers visited the scene that day. They are working with the Six Nations Police Service to investigate the vandalism.

"Both agencies condemn the criminal acts of the suspect, who is believed to have acted alone, and remain committed to holding them accountable for their actions," said a release issued Monday by Brantford police.

Anyone who has information about the crime can contact Det. Justin Torek of the Brantford Police Service at 519-756-0113 (ext. 2812) or Acting Det.-Sgt. Justin Isaacs of the Six Nations Police Service at 519-445-2811.

Anonymous information can be provided to Brantford Crime Stoppers by calling 519-750-8477 or 1-800-222-8477, or by submitting a web tip online at: https://www.crimestoppersbb.com/submit-a-tip/

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.