Orange Shirt Day - A Brief History of Residential Schools

  • purpose

    Canadian Residential Schools were established to intentionally remove children from the educational, cultural and spiritual influences of their families and communities. Indian Residential Schools were established to “civilize” and “Christianize” First Nations by replacing traditional values with Euro-Canadian values.
  • what religion

    In the decades to come, the government turned over operation of most of the residential schools to the Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches. Most people of European descent at the time shared the view that Christianity and civilization supported each other (if they were not actually synonymous). As early as 1852, Rev
  • who was responsible

    The Canadian government was financially responsible for Indian residential schools. Indian residential schools operated in all Canadian provinces and territories except Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland. Indian residential schools operated in Canada between the 1870s and the 1990s.
  • when it started

    While the federal residential school system began around 1883, the origins of the residential school system can be traced to as early as the 1830s long before Confederation in 1867 when the Anglican Church established a residential school in Brantford, Ont.
  • how many died

    Between 1969 and 1978, it was used as a residence for students attending local day schools. Of the remains found, 50 children are believed to have already been identified, said Stephanie Scott, executive director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. Their deaths, where known, range from 1900 to 1971
  • how much money did survivors get

    The settlement provides: • Common Experience Payment (“CEP”) Fund At least $1.9 billion, plus interest, will be made available for lump sum payments to former students who lived at one of the residential schools.