Eric Patterson is Tuscarora Nation from Six Nations of the Grand River. He serves as the Ground Search Coordinator/Analyst with the Survivors' Secretariat, where he works closely with a panel of archaeologists and Survivors to lead ground search activities at sites associated with the former Mohawk Institute Indian Residential School.
Eric holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Sociology from Queen’s University. His role focuses on building community capacity through the development and application of non-invasive archaeological techniques and surveying technologies. He has trained alongside leading experts in the field and has developed skills in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to support precise mapping and documentation of search efforts.
Eric’s journey with the Secretariat began through the Youth Supporting Survivors program—an initiative aimed at engaging young people from the community in truth-telling and remembrance work. After spending two summers as a student participant, he joined the Secretariat full-time in September 2023. Today, he leads the summer program, guiding and mentoring youth from Six Nations and other impacted communities while fostering awareness of the importance of this work in the broader context of truth, justice, and historical reclamation.