Residential Schools

Residential Schools:

Thalit Sqwelqwel (Stories of Truth)

Siwal Si’wes Residential School Curriculum

Siwal Si’wes Library: Every Child Matters Collection

Links to 90+ print and digital resources to support learning.

Map (Government of Canada): Recognized Indian Residential Schools

“This map represents the original 130 Indian Residential Schools included in the 2007 Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement as well as the seven institutions which were added through Article 12 by Canada and the two schools which were added by the courts, bringing the total number of recognized schools to 139.” (Source: Government of Canada)

Introducing the Indian Residential Schools and Reconciliation Teacher Resource Guides

Grade 5 Indian Residential Schools and Reconciliation Teacher Resource Guide: This document includes teaching and learning strategies, lesson plans, assessment ideas, extensive resource lists, maps and blackline masters. Some of the recommended texts include: Neekna & Chenai, Shi-shi-etko, The Secret of the Dance, Shin-Chi’s canoe, No Time to Say Goodbye (Thomas and Joey’s Story), Fatty Legs, When I Was Eight, sections of Seepeetza, sections of They Called Me Number One.

Gladys We Never Knew – The Life of a Child in Residential School : An Indian Residential School Teaching Unit. This eBook is intended to be an interactive resource leading educators from the story to the ‘back story’ utilizing links on each page to offer related resources. (Intermediate, Middle School)

Shi-Shi Etko (Video version of the story in Halq’meylem and English)

Secret of the Dance Lesson Plan “These amazing high interest strategies for struggling readers can be used across the grades. Secret of the Dance is one of six stories/lesson plans developed by the Siya:ye Yoyes Committee in partnership with the Langley School District. For more information about the complete resource, please contact Janet Stromquist at jstromquist@sd35.bc.ca.” Retrieved from Teach BC. (Intermediate, Middle School, High School)

Finding Peter Bryce (video, 23m 32s) : Find a link to this film on the BCTF Website here. (Middle School, High School, ProD)

Grade 10 Indian Residential Schools and Reconciliation Teacher Resource Guide This document includes teaching and learning strategies, lesson plans, assessment ideas, extensive resource lists, maps and blackline masters. Primary and Secondary source documents are included as well as supplemental links to primary documents for student research. (High School)

Project of Heart Resource Links : This PDF is a collection of links related to Indian Residential Schools and Reconciliation. Here, you will find historical information, survivor stories, government policy documents, and so on.

Savage, by Lisa Jackson: Music Video in Cree with English subtitles. (High School)

The Residential School System : UBC website indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca includes this section detailing the experience and government policies related Indian Residential Schools. (High School, ProD)

Grade 11/12 Indian Residential Schools and Reconciliation Teacher Resource Guide: Book One, Book Two. This document includes teaching and learning strategies, lesson plans, assessment ideas, extensive resource lists, maps and blackline masters. Primary and Secondary source documents are included as well as supplemental links to primary documents for student research. (High School)

Indian Residential School Tour Mission BC October 24, 2016 : Vancouver News, CBC. “This video documents the efforts of Mission School District staff to honour our Residential School Survivors.”

Mission Orange Shirt Day September 30, 2016 : Vancouver News, CBC “This video documents the efforts of Mission School District staff to honour our Residential School Survivors and to mark September 30th as “Orange Shirt Day”.”

Stolen Children : Residential School survivors speak out : CBC News documentary published June 2, 2015. Three indigenous people tell of their experiences attending Indian Residential Schools and how this experience has affected them, their children, and their grandchildren. (High School, ProD)

Namawayut: we are all one; Video about truth and reconciliation in Canada : “Chief Robert Joseph shares his experience as a residential school survivor and the importance of truth and reconciliation in Canada. [4m 20s] — CBC.

Clouds of Autumn : A film by Trevor Mack & Matthew Taylor Blais. “Set on the Tsilhqot’in plateau in the 1970s, Clouds of autumn focuses on a young Indigenous boy names William and his older sister Shayl whose carefree childhoods are torn apart when Shayl is forced to attend a residential school. singular visual interpretations infuse co-director Trevor Mack’s family history with a slowly shifting tone that evokes loss and love.” [14m 55s] — Trevor Mack. This film is in Chilcotin (I think) with English subtitles. Here is the behind the scenes video showing the making of this award winning short film. Mack used his family and friends as actors for this movie. (Middle School, High School)

Impact of Residential Schools: An Experiential Exercise : A lesson plan from Delta Public School District. Students learn about the impact of Residential Schools in Canada through an experiential exercise. (Intermediate, Middle School)

Forgotten Métis : This exhibition, developed by The Legacy of Hope Foundation in collaboration with others, “aims to give voice to the experience of the many Métis children who were forced to attend Indian Residential Schools.” (Intermediate, Middle, High School)

“Secret Path” by Gord Downie & Jeff Lemire : Resources to go with the Graphic Novel

Adams, Ian. (1967.02.01). The Lonely Death of Charlie Wenjack. Mcleans Magazine.
Meet Ian Adams (CBC article by Jody Porter, posted Oct. 21, 2016.): “Meet the journalist who inspired Gord Downie and Joseph Boyden to write about Chanie Wenjack. In 1966, Ian Adams stared down at the body of Chanie Wenjack and vowed his name would not be forgotten. “
Gord Downie and the story of Chenie Wenjack (Unreserved interview with host Rosanna Deerchild and CBC reporter Jody Porter) [17 min.]: “Tragically Hip lead singer Gord Downie is helping to bring national attention to one of the most haunting legacies of the residential school system: the children who never made it home. CBC’s Jody Porter joins us with more details about the project.”
Statement by Gord Downie, Ogoki Post, Ontario, September 9, 2016
Gord Downie’s lyric composition notes (PDF) secret-path-lyric-booklet
Gord Downies’s The Secret Path, CBC video : “Gord Downie’s The Secret Path and a post-show CBC Arts live panel on the road to reconciliation. Movie length 60 minutes. Panel discussion begins at 59:45.

Secret Path Lesson Plans by Manitoba Teachers’ Society : “As part of our ongoing commitment to engage teachers in reconciliation work, the Manitoba Teachers’ Society recently assembled a group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous teachers from across the province to discuss and explore the Secret Path and to create lesson and unit plans to support the use of this resource for the teaching about Residential schools in Manitoba classrooms. The culmination of the discussions and work of this tremendous group of teachers is found here.”

The Fallen Feather : Video script of Indian Industrial Residential Schools and Canadian Confederation. Includes pictures. Developed by Aboriginal Education, VSB, 2009. Siwal Si’wes Library has a copy of the DVD in their collection. (High School)

Gerry Oleman “History of Canada” : Video explaining something of the history of FNMI in Canada, colonization, and residential schools. Expresses the need for positivity to move forward. (FYI: Speaks about sexual abuse and drug addiction connections to FNMI people’s experiences.) (High School)

BC Residential Schools Map (Intermediate, Middle School, High School)

Canadian Residential Schools Map (Intermediate, Middle School, High School)

Historica Canada. Residential Schools. Research Article. (Intermediate, Middle School, High School)

“Where Are the Children”, Legacy of Hope Foundation, Online Exhibit (High School)

They Came for the Children Report on the Residential School System. 2012. Published by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Research Article. (High School)

UBC Indigenous Foundations Research Article (High School)

Anglican Church of Canada : There was nothing good : An open letter to Canadian Senator Lynn Beyak. (High School, ProD)

The following links are found in the book Residential Schools (Righting Canada’s Wrongs).

Canadian Residential Schools Propaganda Video 1955 : This film was created and shown by the Canadian Government to tell the Canadian people about Residential Schools [p. 122]. (Middle School, High School)

Canada attempted ‘cultural genocide’ on aboriginals: Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin : Speech given at the Global Centre for Pluralism annual lecture in May of 2015 [p. 111]. (Middle School, High School)

Canada apologizes for residential school system : Prime Minister Steven Harper delivering an official Apology to the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada. [p. 97] (Middle School, High School)

Fontaine pleads for help in easing native anger : CTV News article from May 15, 2007 [p. 97- alternative article offered here due to previous article no longer being available online] (Middle School, High School)

Central Okanagan School District presents Angela White and the Indian Residential School Survivors’ Society as a guest speaker on Canada’s Residential Schools. Here is her presentation in three parts. (ProD)

Video – Part 1: Colonialism and Indian Residential Schools (21 min)