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First Residential School in Canada
The first known residential school in Canada was built in 1831 called The Mohawk Institute -
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Indian Act Applied
Residential Schools were very abundant in the early and mid-1900s as thousands of children were going to these schools. This was their peak and during this time, in 1920, the Indian Act was approved by the Canadian government making residential schools mandatory for Indigenous students around the country. -
Residential School Conditions
In 1907, it was reported that 24% of all indigenous children who attended residential schools were in a critical medical condition. Many of them were not getting the proper care that they needed and suffered both mentally and physically. -
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Residential School Numbers Decreasing
In the late 1960s and early ’70s, operational residential schools were declining around the country. -
New Laws Implemented for Removing Residential Schools
In the 1980s significant changes were made to Canadian law. Steps were being made in the right direction for eliminating residential schools from the country with the implementation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. -
Last Residential School in Canada
The last residential school closed in 1996 in Saskatchewan. -
Official Apology to Indigenous Communities
On June 11th, 2008 an official apology to the Indigenous children and families who suffered from this tragic event was given during this time by the prime minister at the time, Steven Harper. -
Indigenous Culture Today
Today, in 2021 we remember Indigenous lives across Canada. We also continue to research and educate students about the history of not only residential schools, but the everlasting impact that they had on Indigenous families and children.