Speaking Our Truth

WHERE HAVE WE COME FROM?

Until recently the honest history of Canada and Indigenous people had rarely been told. It is critical for us as a country to tell this truth and for young citizens to know this history so that we can learn from it and ensure that it is never repeated. A key part of honesty is recognizing and accepting the truth. Some parts of this history can be hard to believe, and at times it can hurt to learn how legislation and policies have impacted the First Peoples of this country.

There is a myth in Canada that residential schools existed a long time ago. While most of the schools had closed by the mid-1970s, the last federally run Residential School, Gordon's School in Punnichy, Saskatchewan, closed in 1996. —Monique Gray Smith

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SYSTEM

The Indian Residential School System (IRSS), as defined by the federal government, is limited to 139 schools that operated across Canada between 1831 and 1996. This definition is controversial and excludes provincially-administered schools, as well as hostels and day schools. Residential schools existed in almost all provinces and territories, and in the North also took the form of hostels and tent camps. The earliest recognized and longest-running Indian Residential School was the Mohawk Institute, in Brantford, Ontario, which operated from 1831 to 1962. The last federally-run Indian Residential School, Gordon’s School in Punnichy, Saskatchewan, closed in 1996, and was subsequently demolished, marking the end of the residential school era. Source: Legacy of Hope Foundation. To learn more about the Indian Residential School System, please visit the Legacy of Hope website, in particular Hope and Healing: The Legacy of the Indian Residential School System downloadable PDF booklet.

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation has created an interactive map that provides information on Residential Schools by province, including photographs, the religious entity in charge of the school, and the years the school operated. You'll also discover information about events and hearings across Canada. Learn more.

SURVIVORS SPEAK

We owe a great debt of gratitude to the Survivors of residential schools and their families. It’s through their courage and resilience and sharing of experiences that we are afforded a glimpse into what life was like before, during and after Residential School. Kinanâskomitin! Thank you! Unless otherwise noted, the stories that follow are from The Survivors Speak: A Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, released in 2015.