INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS IN CANADA

Understanding Their History and Impact.

Indian Residential Schools were government-funded, church-run institutions that operated across Canada for over a century. Their purpose was to assimilate First Nations children by forcibly separating them from their families, languages, and cultures. Though these schools are now closed, their effects continue to be deeply felt.

LAMATHUT CRISIS LINE 24/7 SUPPORT: 1 (800) 721-0066

TRIGGER WARNING // SENSITIVE PAGE CONTENT

Some information on this page may be distressing. IRSSS encourages you to care for your mental and emotional well-being. If you need support, please reach out or call our 24/7 Crisis Line at 1-800-721-0066.

A SYSTEM OF FORCED ASSIMILATION

What Are Residential Schools?

More than just schools, these institutions were sites of forced separation, cultural suppression, and suffering. Indigenous children were forbidden to speak their languages, subjected to religious instruction, and made to perform labour such as farming, cooking, and cleaning. Many endured physical, sexual, emotional, and spiritual abuse, as well as malnutrition and neglect.

The first residential school in British Columbia, St. Mary’s, opened in 1861. By 1879, attendance became mandatory under government policies designed to erase Indigenous identity. The last Indian Residential School in BC closed in 1984, but the damage continues to impact Indigenous communities today.

A LEGACY OF HARM

Who Attended These Schools?

Over 150,000 First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children were forcibly taken from their families and placed in Indian Residential Schools across Canada. Many suffered from starvation, disease, and abuse, with mortality rates in some schools reaching as high as 60% over five years. Thousands of children never returned home. The search for unmarked graves is ongoing, revealing the true scale of this tragedy.

Reports as early as 1907 exposed the neglect and harm within these institutions, yet government policies remained unchanged for decades. The effects of these schools continue to be felt across generations.

THE LASTING IMPACT

Why Is This History Important Today?

The effects of Indian Residential Schools did not end when they closed. The trauma experienced by Survivors has been passed down through generations, impacting families, mental health, and cultural identity. Acknowledging this history is essential for healing, reconciliation, and ensuring Survivors receive the support they need.

THE LASTING IMPACT OF TRAUMA

The trauma of residential schools extends beyond those who attended. This intergenerational trauma has led to ongoing challenges, including high rates of mental health struggles, substance use, and family violence in Indigenous communities. The loss of safety, stability, and cultural connection continues to shape the lives of Survivors and their descendants.

THE LOSS OF CULTURE & IDENTITY

Residential schools forcibly separated children from their families, stripping them of their languages, traditions, and ways of life. Many Indigenous people are still working to reclaim their heritage, facing challenges in reconnecting with their languages and cultural practices. Despite this, resilience and cultural revitalization remain strong.

THE ONGOING NEED FOR HEALING

Healing from the impacts of residential schools is a long and ongoing process. Many Survivors and their families continue to struggle, yet culturally appropriate emotional and cultural support remains limited. Acknowledging the past, amplifying Survivor voices, and increasing access to these resources are essential steps toward reconciliation and collective healing.

SUPPORTING SURVIVORS & FAMILIES

The Role of IRSSS in Healing and Reconciliation.

The Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS) supports Survivors and their families as they navigate the lasting impacts of residential schools. Through culturally sensitive crisis support, counselling and resource referral, IRSSS helps individuals heal from intergenerational trauma and reconnect with their identities.

Our work is rooted in recognizing the pain and loss caused by residential schools while fostering resilience, healing, and hope. Through education, advocacy, and Survivor-centered care, IRSSS contributes to ongoing efforts for truth, reconciliation, and the preservation of Indigenous languages, traditions, and cultures.

INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS

Frequently Asked Questions.

  • Indian Day Schools were similar to residential schools, with students attending classes during the day but returning home in the evenings. These schools also aimed to assimilate Indigenous children by suppressing their languages and cultures, often under the influence of religious organizations. Abuse was widespread in these institutions, and Day Scholars, who attended residential schools during the day but lived at home, faced many of the same hardships.

  • Intergenerational trauma refers to the lasting impact of residential schools on Survivors’ descendants. The trauma experienced in these institutions has contributed to ongoing challenges in Indigenous communities, including mental health struggles, substance use, and loss of cultural identity.

LAMATHUT CRISIS LINE 24/7 SUPPORT: 1 (800) 721-0066