Residential School History Facts
While the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Report covers the history of residential schools extensively, here are some quick facts about residential schools.
Infographic Description: Facts about Residential Schools
- They existed from early 1800’s to late 1900’s
- They were government funded and mainly church-run
- 150,000+ Indigenous children attended these schools (around ages 4-16)
- The purpose of these schools was to assimilate Indigenous children to Christian European ways
- Many survivors of these schools reported emotional, physical, spiritual, sexual, and mental abuse
- 1 in 25 children died in these schools due to poor conditions, not enough nutrition provided, and attempts to escape the schools
- The last residential school closed in 1996
You can also visit the Residential Schools Timeline on the Canadian Encyclopaedia website.
