Residential Schools: Introduction
Learn more about Canada's "Indian Residential Schools System". Find information to start learning and also to do more in-depth research.
A 24/7 support line is available for residential school survivors and their families:
the Residential School Survivor Support Line 1-866-925-4419.
Survivors and their families can also access the services of the Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program.
For all Indigenous Peoples in Manitoba, this document from Shared Health Manitoba lists additional supports: Indigenous Cultural Healing Supports (last updated: November, 2020).
The 20 branches of Winnipeg Public Library are located on Treaty No. 1 territory and the Homeland of the Métis Nation. The drinking water in Library buildings comes from Shoal Lake 40 First Nation in Treaty No. 3 territory.
Welcome.
You are visiting Winnipeg Public Library's Residential Schools Info Guide. This guide is designed to help people learn more about the "Indian Residential Schools" system put in place by the Canadian government and operated by several churches in Canada. This is a living resource. Please check back for updates.
- Ask Us!If you would like help with a research question or are looking for other information, please contact us. We are here to help find the information you need. Use this short form to send the Library your question. You can also phone us at 204-986-6450.
The 94 Calls to Action
Featured
- Truth before reconciliation: 8 ways to identify and confront Residential School denialismSOURCE: The Conversation. Authors: Daniel Heath Justice and Sean Carleton
Sources to help begin learning about residential schools
- Residential school historySOURCE: National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
SUMMARY: A general overview of the Indian Residential School System that was present in Canada/British North America for more than 150 years. - "The Residential School System" - University of British Columbia Indigenous FoundationsThis short article provides an overview of the Indian Residential School System. The bibliography at the end lists a number of related books.
- A Lost Heritage: Canada's Residential Schools - CBC ArchivesCBC Archives provides access to a selection of television and radio content of CBC coverage of residential school-related stories. The archive includes footage of survivor Phil Fontaine's first interviews about his experience, the federal government apology of 2008, stories about churches involved and more.
Timelines
- Residential school timelineSOURCE: National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
- 100 Years of Loss - Legacy of Hope FoundationThis document gives an illustrated timeline of residential schools and related history and events.
Tracking progress
- Delivering on Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to ActionSOURCE: Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
- Canadian Reconciliation Barometer
SUMMARY: "The Canadian Reconciliation Barometer is a set of questions that Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Canada complete through a large online survey." - The Canadian Reconciliation Barometer 2021 ReportDATE: February, 2022
- Calls To Action Accountability: A 2020 Status Update On Reconciliation Executive SummarySOURCE: Yellowhead Institute. Authors: Dr. Eva Jewell (Ma’iingan dodem) & Dr. Ian Mosby
- Calls To Action Accountability: A Status Update On Reconciliation [2019]SOURCE: Yellowhead Institute. Authors: Dr. Eva Jewell (Ma’iingan dodem) & Dr. Ian Mosby
- Beyond 94: Truth and Reconciliation in CanadaSOURCE: CBC
SUMMARY: An interactive site from the CBC monitoring progress on the 94 Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
In Manitoba
- Residential schools in Manitoba - recordsSOURCE: National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
SUMMARY: Learn about the residential schools that operated in Manitoba. These pages from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation Archive share a "narrative" for each school (complied by the Government of Canada) and links to records from the schools which you can view online. - Manitoba Residential Schools - memorial listingsSOURCE: National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
SUMMARY: These pages from the NCTR share profile information about each residential schools that operated in Manitoba, and list of children who either died or went missing during their time at a school. As of May, 2021 there are 220 names recorded of children who had attended schools across the province.
The experience of the Métis
Canada's Residential Schools : The Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Volume 3. The Métis Experience.Call Number: Adult Aboriginal ResourcesPublication Date: 2016
The experience of the Inuit
- We Were So Far Away: The Inuit Experience of Residential Schools - websiteSOURCE: Legacy of Hope Foundation
- We Were So Far Away: The Inuit Experience of Residential Schools - documentSOURCE: Legacy of Hope Foundation
Canada's Residential Schools : The Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Volume 2. The Inuit and Northern ExperienceCall Number: Borrow from the Library.Publication Date: 2016
- A Brief Report of The Federal Government of Canada’s Residential School System for InuitPrepared for the Aboriginal Healing Foundation by David King 2006
The Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement
- The Indian Residential Schools Ajudication SecretariatSUMMARY: "The Indian Residential Schools Adjudication Secretariat (IRSAS) is an arms-length, independent organization that is responsible for supporting the Chief Adjudicator in the implementation and administration of the Independent Assessment Process (IAP)."
- Statistics on the Implementation of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement AgreementSOURCE: Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada