Showing 24 results

People and organizations
Kitimaat Residential School
Corporate body · 1894–1898, 1899–1908, 1908–1941

The Elizabeth Long Memorial Home was located in Kitamaat Village, a reserve of the Haisla Nation, located near the head of Douglas Channel in northern British Columbia, some 120 kilometres southeast of Prince Rupert. From 1894-1898 an informal boarding school was operated on the site by missionaries of The Methodist Church of Canada. In 1899 the Woman's Missionary Society took the home over, and operated a Girls’ Home until 1908, followed by the Elizabeth Long Memorial Home until 1925. In 1925 operations were transferred to the Board of Home Missions of The United Church of Canada until its closure in 1941.

Corporate body · 1889–1949

File Hills Residential School was located approximately 14 kilometres north of Balcarres, Saskatchewan, and 100 kilometres northeast of Regina, just outside the western boundary of the Okanese Reserve. The school began as a small day institution, opened by J.C. Richardson in 1884 on the Little Black Bear Reserve. It closed soon afterwards. In 1886, R. Toms reopened the day institution and it operated until 1889, when the Woman's Missionary Society with the support of the Foreign Mission Committee of The Presbyterian Church in Canada and the Department of Indian Affairs built a new institution just outside of the reserve’s boundaries. It was operated by The Presbyterian Church until 1924 when its operation was transferred to the United Church of Canada who managed it until its closure in 1949.

McKay, Donald
Person

Wii Haughtkm Skiik (Don McKay) is a survivor of Edmonton Residential School. He sued the United Church and the government of Canada for the abuse that he endured during 12 years at the institution. In 2005, an out-of-court settlement agreement was reached among all the parties. That settlement with Don included compensation and the provision that the United Church would host an apology feast in his house. Representatives of the Church and Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada offered apologies on behalf of The United Church of Canada and the Government of Canada. Among those present at the feast were members of the Indian Residential School Survivors Society, as well as other survivors of Residential Schools. In addition to the formal apology, the feast included a ceremonial retelling of Don’s story of being taken away to Residential School. The Church presented plaques to the community and gifts to Don, including a blanket symbolizing comfort and healing.

Corporate body · 1900–1946, 1952–1965

Norway House Residential School was located in central Manitoba on approximately 40 acres of Norway House 17, at Rossville Village. The reserve is on the shores of Little Playgreen Lake, about 40 kilometres north of Lake Winnipeg. The school was operated as a day school and residential school by the Missionary Society of The Methodist Church of Canada from 1900-1925, then transferred to the Board of Home Missions of The United Church of Canada from 1925-1946. In 1946 the school was destroyed by fire, and remained un-operational until it was rebuilt and opened in 1952. The residential school closed in 1965, but a day school remained operational on the site until June, 1967.

Corporate body · 1902-1976

Cecilia Jeffrey Residential School was initially located on the west side of Shoal Lake, Ontario, near the Manitoba border and just east of Shoal Lake Reserve No. 40. It operated at this site from 1901-1929. The second site was located on land surrounding Round Lake, 3 miles from the town of Kenora where it operated until 1976. The school was funded by the Government of Canada and operated by the Foreign Mission Committee of the Presbyterian Church in Canada until 1969 when management and operation of the school was transferred to the federal government.

Ahousaht Residential School
Corporate body · 1895 –1916, 1918–1940

Ahousaht Residential School was located just south of Marktosis #15, of the Ahousaht First Nation, on the southeast end of Flores Island on the western shore of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The Presbyterian Church in Canada operated a day school/informal boarding school on the site from 1895-1904. From 1904-1925 it was a residential school; funded by the Government of Canada and operated/managed by the Woman’s Missionary Society of The Presbyterian Church in Canada. In 1925 the management and operation was transferred to the the Board of Home Missions of The United Church of Canada until the school was officially closed in January, 1940.

Corporate body · 1851–1862, 1867–1946

Mount Elgin Residential School was located on what is now the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, No. 42, in Muncey, 32 kilometres southwest of London, Ontario.  The land occupied by the school also bordered on the Oneida Nation of the Thames reserve from which it leased land.   With support from the Department of Indian Affairs, the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society operated the school from 1851-1862, and 1867-1874. In 1874 The Methodist Church of Canada took over operations. Then, in 1925 The United Church of Canada took over ownership until its closure in 1946.

Lebret Residential School
Corporate body · 1884-1998

Lebret Residential School was located on the west edge of Lebret on the northern shore of Mission Lake east of Fort Qu'Appelle and approximately 80 km northeast of Regina. It operated from 1884 - 1998 (114 years) under the Roman Catholic church and officially closed on June 30, 1998.

Morley Residential School
Corporate body · 1883–1908, 1922–1926, 1926–1969

The McDougall Orphanage was located in the Morleyville Settlement, on the north side of the Bow River, just east of the Stoney First Nation Reserve and approximately 64 kilometres west of Calgary, Alberta and the Morley Residential School was located on the Stoney First Nation Reserve on the south side of the Bow River, near Morley. The McDougall Orphanage and Training School was an orphanage and day school operated by the Woman's Missionary Society of The Methodist Church of Canada with funding from the Department of Indian Affairs from 1883-1908, with school buildings on the north and south sides of the Bow River. The school briefly reopened in 1909, and closed again in 1910. In 1922 a temporary semi-residential school was set up by The Methodist Church, with government support until funds could be found for a permanent school. In 1926, the Morley Residential School, with a new residence was opened and operated by The United Church of Canada until its closure in 1969.

Edmonton Residential School
Corporate body · 1924–1966

Edmonton Residential School was located near the town of St. Albert, approximately 16 kilometres northwest of downtown Edmonton, Alberta. The school was opened in 1924 by the Woman's Missionary Society of The Methodist Church of Canada, with some funding by the Department of Indian Affairs. In 1925 operation was transferred to The United Church of Canada who managed it until its closure in 1966.

Corporate body · 1888–1960, 1961–1975

Portage La Prairie Residential School was first located one quarter mile east of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, but in 1915 the school moved to the shores of Crescent Lake, just southwest of the city. It was funded by the Government of Canada, and operated by the Women’s Foreign Missionary Society of The Presbyterian Church in Canada from 1888-1925, and by the Woman's Missionary Society of The United Church of Canada from 1925-1960. At various times it also operated as a day school, and from 1961-1975 it was operated as a student residence by The United Church of Canada.

Cariboo Residential School
Corporate body · 1891-07-19 - 1981-06-30

Cariboo Residential School was located southwest of Williams Lake, halfway between Quesnel and Kamloops on the BC Interior. It was funded by The Government of Canada and operated by the Roman Catholic Church from July 1891-March 31, 1969. From April 1, 1969-June 1981, the federal government managed and operated the school.

Corporate body · 1893-1919

Red Deer Industrial Institute was located five kilometres west of Red Deer, Alberta, on 1120 acres on the banks of the Red Deer River. It was built by the Department of Indian Affairs, and operated from 1893-1919 by the Missionary Society of The Methodist Church of Canada.

Duck Lake Boarding School
Corporate body · 1894-1996

In 1894 Roman Catholic missionaries established the Duck Lake boarding school north of Saskatoon in what is now Saskatchewan. A new school, which later became known as St. Michael’s, was constructed in 1949. In 1969 the federal government took over the administration of the school. In 1982, the school was turned over to the Saskatoon District Tribal Council. It was closed in 1996.

Corporate body · 1887–1950

Round Lake Residential School was located at the east end of Round Lake, Saskatchewan, on the north side of the Qu’Appelle River, across the river from Ochapowace First Nation and about 200 kilometres east of Regina. It opened in 1887 was managed by the Foreign Missionary Society of The Presbyterian Church in Canada. In 1925 management transferred to The United Church of Canada until its closure in 1950.

Corporate body · 1890-1917

All Hallows' Residential School was a boarding school for girls (Indigenous and non-Indigenous), located in Yale, British Columbia. It was established in 1890 and operated by the Anglican Church in Canada with initial staffing coming from the Sisters of the Community of All Hallows in Norfolk, England. The school was closed in 1917 and the students transferred to the Residential School at Lytton.

Corporate body · 1890-07-23 - 1975-06-30

Kuper Island Residential School was located on Penelakut Island (formerly Kuper Island) near the community of Chemainus, Vancouver Island. It was funded by The Government of Canada and operated by the Roman Catholic Church from 1890-1969. After 1969, the federal government took over administration of the school until it closed in 1975.

Brandon Residential School
Corporate body · 1895-1972

Brandon Residential School was located in the municipality of Cornwallis, in southern Manitoba, five kilometres northwest of Brandon, on the north bank of the Assiniboine River. The Board of Missions of The Methodist Church of Canada operated the school from 1895 until it was transferred to the Board of Home Missions of The United Church of Canada in 1925. In 1969 the Department of Indian Affairs assumed management (then a residence only) and turned it over to the Roman Catholic Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate until its closure in 1972.

Corporate body · 1886–1894, 1894–1940

The Coqualeetza Industrial Institute, also referred to as Coqualeetza Residential School was located on the shores of Luckakuck Creek in Sardis, British Columbia, about five kilometres south of Chilliwack in the traditional territory of Skowkale First Nation. It was operated by the Woman's Missionary Society and the General Board of Home Missions of the Methodist Church of Canada, and after 1925 the Board of Home Missions of the United Church of Canada. It was first founded as a day school in 1884 by Missionary Charles M. Tate and his wife, Caroline. Two years later, they began boarding some students in the mission house, first at their own cost and later with the support of the federal government and the Woman's Missionary Society (WMS). In 1888, the WMS built a residential school named the Coqualeetza Home, which continued to operated until it burned down in 1891. With some help from the federal government, the school was rebuilt and opened as the Coqualeetza Industrial Institute in 1894. In 1900, the General Board of Missions took over from the WMS. In 1924 the federal government built a new building to accommodate 200 pupils, which opened in October. In 1925, The United Church of Canada took over operations. In 1939 the Institute closed, and afterward the building became the Coqualeetza Sanitorium under the management of the federal government. It was partially destroyed by fire in 1948, with a new building being completed in 1956.

Corporate body · 1892-1948

Port Simpson Residential School was located in Port Simpson (Lax Kw’alaams), on the north coast of British Columbia, 40 kilometres north of Prince Rupert near the Tsimpshean Reserve. The Girls’ Home was operated by the Crosby family, and later the Woman's Missionary Society of The Methodist Church of Canada from 1879-1925, and by the Board of Home Missions of The United Church of Canada from 1925-1948. The Boys’ Home, located on the southeast side of the village, was operated by the Missionary Society of The Methodist Church of Canada from 1890-1914.

Regina Residential School
Corporate body · 1891-1910

Regina Residential School was situated on the Wascana Creek banks, four miles northwest of the city of Regina. It was operated by the Foreign Missions Committee of the Presbyterian Church in Canada from 1891-1910.

Alberni Residential School
Corporate body · 1892–1899, 1900–1966, 1967–1973

Alberni Residential School was located on the west bank of the Somass River, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, just south of the Tseshaht Reserve and about four kilometres north of Port Alberni. It was operated by the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, and after 1925 The Woman's Missionary Society of The United Church of Canada. A day school first opened at the site under Missionary Rev. J.A. MacDonald of the Presbyterian Church in Canada in 1891. Soon, with the support of the government the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Presbyterian Church opened a larger boarding home called Alberni Girls' Home to operate alongside the day school until 1899. Then, the Alberni Residential School opened in 1900. The United Church of Canada took over operations in 1925, and the school remained open until 1966. The Alberni Student Residence operated there from 1967-1973, with the Government of Canada taking over full responsibility in 1969.

Birtle Residential School
Corporate body · 1888-1970

Birtle Residential School was first located in approximately half a mile north of Birtle, Manitoba, then later relocated to the town of Birtle. It was funded by the Government of Canada and operated by the Presbyterian Church in Canada. It opened as a day school in 1883 and was converted to a boarding school in 1888. The school closed in 1970.

Corporate body · 1998-

The Residential Schools Steering Committee, a committee of the Executive of the General Council, was established in 1998 to “co-ordinate all aspects of the issues related to residential schools, including the legal, pastoral, communications, alternate resolution possibilities, healing initiatives and financial planning.” In carrying out this mandate, the Committee has been mindful that each decision and action must reflect the commitment to give substance to the United Church Apologies of 1986 and 1998, and reflect the Six Principles adopted by the General Council Executive in 2003. The steering committee meets 3 times a year, with one meeting often held at the former site of a school. It regularly publishes an update, found on the United Church of Canada website (2003-). The committee reports to the Executive of the General Council. At the November, 2010 General Council Executive meeting, the Residential Schools Steering Committee was renamed the Committee on Indigenous Justice and Residential Schools (CIJRS). Following the 43rd General Council when the Calls to the Church were adopted the Committee on Indigenous Justice and Residential Schools became the Indigenous Justice Advisory Committee.