Learn about life before, during, and after residential schools from Survivors. Attended a presentation online or in your community. Check with location reconciliation groups, or set one up for your organization by contacting the Office of the Treaty Commissioners’ speakers bureau.
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Visit a monument, sculpture or other art piece created in honour of residential school Survivors in your community. Take a moment to reflect on the experiences of those survivors.
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To realize how inequities and privilege play out in our lives, look to join community events (talks, conferences, workshop) on privilege and racism. Check out the BeAConnectR events page.
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Former senator and chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Murray Sinclair, talks to The National’s Adrienne Arsenault about the steps Canada needs to take on the path toward reconciliation.
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Hear from Dr. Reg Crowshoe, Piikani Blackfoot Nation Elder in Calgary, and Johnny Caisse, a young volunteer with the Diamond Willow Youth Lodge, in this video telling a poignant and personal story of what it means to experience intergenerational trauma.
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The trauma experienced by residential school survivors didn’t only impact the mental and physical health of one generation, it was passed on to their children, grandchildren and future generations. Learn more in this CBC video.
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A report from 2016, one year after the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its report on the damage done by Canada’s residential schools. Murray Sinclair, chair of the commission, discusses the progress on the recommendations.
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Chief Robert Joseph, ambassador for Reconciliation Canada, shares his experience as a residential school survivor and the importance of truth and reconciliation in Canada in this video by CBC.
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Bringing Our Children Home is a series of livestreams from Reconciliation Canada. Candy Palmater, Mi’maw comedian, hosted the discussion on how we are all building the Reconciliation movement, exploring ideas that will help shape the future of Canada.
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Learn about reconciliation from the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund and see ideas for engagement and action
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Watch CBC’s The Fifth Estate’s coverage of the residential school St. Anne’s, an Indian Residential School in Northern Ontario, that was a place of horrific abuse and crimes against children that took place over decades.
Warning: this film contains content that could be triggering for some viewers
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Read about the history of Residential Schools in Canada on the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation website. The information continues information that could be triggering to some readers.
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Go deeper in your learning an into the history of the Indian Act and the founding of the Residential Schools system. Use these resources from Facing History & Ourselves Canada, a group supporting educators to create inclusive, empathetic, and equitable classroom environments that encourage conversations around truth and reconciliation, justice, and identity.
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Watch the screening of the Making of the Witness blanket and conversation with Carey, Marion & Ellen Newman in this online event hosted by UBC.
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Watch this video from the New York Times featuring the work being done by a team of archaeologists led in part by Dr. Terence Clark from the University of Saskatchewan, who are working with the Muskowekwan First Nation to search for the unmarked graves of children.
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The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation saw the creation of the The Survivors’ Flag as an expression of remembrance, meant to honour residential school Survivors and all the lives and communities impacted by the residential school system in Canada. Each element depicted on the flag was carefully selected by Survivors from across Canada, who were consulted in the flag’s creation.
Read MoreThe New Brunswick Community College (NBCC) has put together a public list of articles and video resources to learn more about the Intergenerational Trauma.
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This article on the Local Love website looks at how the trauma from residential schools can impact individuals and communities today. It looks at how intergenerational trauma has mental and physical effects and how to stop the cycle of intergenerational trauma and how can on heal from it.
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Residential Schools and Reconciliation is a learning portal by the Royal BC Museum that features readings, videos, teacher resources, and the opportunity to view historical images and objects about residential schools.
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The history of residential schools in Canada can be traced as far back as the 17th century. Watch the “Residential Schools in Canada Timeline” video by Historica Canada to learn about the significant dates in its history — from the landing of Jesuits in what is now known as Quebec, to the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s final report in 2015.
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The Assembly of First Nations developed a toolkit to bring together First Nations and non-First Nations people and foster a spirit of cooperation, understanding, and action. Learn about residential schools, culture, pre-contact history, and role models.
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Through the guidance of Knowledge Keepers and Residential School Survivors, we created a resource page for Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept 30, 2021. We hope these stories and ideas will inspire you to honour Sept 30 and also think about how you will deepen your commitment to truth and reconciliation. Visit the resource page here.
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Learn more about the residential school experience. Read ‘Lessons Learned’, a report by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which shares experiences of residential school survivors and shapes future work towards truth-telling, reconciliation, and healing.
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Download the ebook Shattering the Silence: The Hidden History of Indian Residential Schools in Saskatchewan, a resource for educators
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Still Here Still Healing, is a podcast that shares stories from residential school survivors and discussions with Indigenous youth about topics such as culture, language, identity, and community. Tune in to advance your awareness to the lasting impacts of residential schools and ongoing impacts of colonialization.
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The residential school system separated 150,000 Indigenous children from their families — and the last one closed in 1996. Was one of those schools in or near the community where you grew up? You can use the CBC interactive map to find out.
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Canada’s History has lesson plans, including this one for youth in Grade 7, 8, 9, Gibaajimominaan: Our Stories. This lesson has students learn from residential school Survivors and consider what they can do to support the Survivors and their families.
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Survivors and children of survivors of the Saskatoon Survivors Circle shared their stories of residential school and what Orange Shirt Day means to them in this 2020 initiative. Watch their stories
Thank you to Nutrien for their support and being our Community Investor on this project and to the Saskatoon Survivors Circle for their willingness to share difficult truths.
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Listen to residential school survivor stories: Legacy of Hope Foundation. Over the last twenty years, the Legacy of Hope Foundation has developed a collection of videos to educate and foster awareness of the impacts of the Residential School System.
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Picking up the Pieces follows the journey of making the Witness Blanket – a national monument that commemorates the experiences of residential school survivors across Canada.
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Historica Canada created a podcast series about the history of residential schools in Canada. The Residential Schools podcast aims to commemorate the history and legacy of residential schools, and honour the stories of Survivors, families, and communities.
Read MoreStolen Children is an 18 minute video from CBC News show The National, which demonstrates how Residential Schools affected survivors and their children and grandchildren.
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In 2015, the Wawahte book was made into an educational documentary that combines archival images with clips of Residential School survivors sharing their stories.
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10 Children’s Books About Residential Schools
“The following ten books reflect on the residential school experience in different ways. They have all been identified as age-appropriate for children under 12 by reputable organizations.”
Read MoreThe Facing History and Ourselves website offers educational resources and professional development with the intention of addressing racism and discrimination. Stolen Lives: The Indigenous Peoples of Canada and the Indian Residential Schools is both a book and online resource.
Read MoreJordan Apetagon has been deeply impacted by the role that residential schools have played in his life. He was “a living, breathing, walking example of the damage the residential school caused.” Read the full story here.
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Fred Sasakamoose in the Globe & Mail
He made it out of a notorious residential school to become the first Indigenous player in the NHL. He played 11 games for the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1950s and never scored a point. But he hadn’t wanted to be a ground-breaking athlete. He just wanted to be home. Photo by Jason Franson/Globe and Mail
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TRC List of Residential Schools
Photo Credit BiblioArchives, Government of Canada
The Canadian Federal Government embraced the residential school model for Aboriginal education from 1880 until 1996 when the last school was closed. Visit the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation website to learn about residential schools and their legacy.
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Interactive Map from the National Centre for Truth & Reconciliation
Google Earth Maps
TRC Map of Residential Schools
Map of Saskatchewan Residential Schools
Start understanding the impact of Canada’s residential school system by looking at the location of schools across the country. Some of the maps above include timelines and stories of survivors.
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