Residential Schools

Where can I find resources about Residential Schools?

The Children Remembered - Residential School Archives Project

The Children Remembered was initiated by the United Church’s Steering Committee on Residential Schools, comprised of Survivors from different residential schools across Canada and of United Church leaders and staff. Here you will find photographs from the collections in our national archives in Toronto, as well as photos from the Pacific Mountain Regional Council Archives in British Columbia. By digitizing the photographs, we hope to make them more accessible to Survivors, First Nations communities, and other interested people.

Where are the Children?

Developed in 2001, the goals of Where are the Children? Healing the Legacy of the Residential Schools are to: acknowledge the experiences of, and the impacts and consequences of Canada’s Residential School System on Aboriginal peoples; to create a public and historical record of this period in Canadian history that could be easily accessed by Canadians; and to promote public awareness, understanding and education of the history and legacy of residential schools. Through documentation, acknowledgment and education, the goal of the exhibition is also to assist in promoting understanding and reconciliation in Canada about residential schools.

Residential Schools in Canada

This resource for educators is a project of Historica Canada and Heritage Minutes.

Solving the 'Indian Problem' Assimilation Laws, Practices & Indian Residential Schools by D’Arcy Rheault, Traditional Teacher and ceremonialist as well as Professor at Fleming College in Peterborough, Ontario.

The Residential School System

An article briefly touching upon the history of residential school system in Canada.

Residential Schools - Plain Talk

Learn about the history of residential school system, and it impacts on Indigenous people. Part of the It’s Our Time: The AFN Education Toolkit created by the Assembly of First Nations.

Let’s Talk – Cogeco Cable Television Show

A talk show produced by and featuring school-aged children discussing issues of day-to-day life.

September 23, 2021
Let's Talk Season Premiere, students talk about Truth and Reconciliation and what role the education system will have to play.

September 28, 2021
Beverly Williams talks about her time at a residential school.

September 30, 2021
Students reflect on what they have learned during the previous 2 episodes and discuss how they can be part of the solution.

Mohawk Institute Residential School Survivor Stories: Sherlene Bomberry

Survivors speak out about their experience of Residential Schools. Sherlene Bomberry was a student at the Mohawk Institute Residential School.

Spirit Bear's Guide to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action

This booklet is written by Spirit Bear as a youth-friendly guide to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) 94 Calls to Action.

We Were Here

This video tells the tale of historic barn etchings of the Chippewas of Thames First Nations reserve, one of the only remaining structures in Canada from the country's residential school program at the turn of the century. The students at Mt. Elgin Industrial School worked day and night in the barn - leaving their names and notes behind to tell their tale.

Library Resources on Residential Schools

Looking for more in-depth knowledge on residential schools? Leddy Library offers many books, journals and articles on the topic.