IRSHDC : School : Coqualeetza (BC) [866]

Coqualeetza Residential School in Sardis, Chilliwack, BC (1935-1939). Source: Museum of Anthropology Archives.

Home Communities of Students

Cowichan, Ditidaht First Nation, Gitanmaax Band, Gitga’at First Nation, Gitxaała Nation, Gitlaxt'aamiks, Haida, Haisla Nation, Heiltsuk Nation, Kemano, Kitasoo / Xai’xais Nation, Koksilah (Xwulqw'selu), Lax Kw’alaams Band, Lytton First Nation, Malahat Nation, Nisga'a Village of Laxgalts’ap, Nisga'a Village of Gingolx, Nuxalk Nation, Old Massett Village, Port Essington, Port Renfrew, Quamichan (Kwa'mutsun), Saanichton, Salishan, Salmon River, Skowkale First Nation, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), Snaw-naw-as (Nanoose First Nation), Snuneymuxw First Nation, Somenos (S-amuna'), Soowahlie First Nation, Stz’uminus First Nation, Sumas First Nation, Teheaston, Wei Wai Kum First Nation, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam).

Note on Home Communities

The “home communities" mentioned above come from the school narratives created by government researchers in the Indian Residential School litigation process. Here the communities are described as “bands” and “reserves.” We have tried to update the names to communities' current, preferred names (these names are hyperlinked in the list above). In instances where we have not been sure which community is being referenced, we have left the name as it appears in the school narrative and unlinked. The names of cultural groups have been updated and the original name placed in square brackets.

These lists on the school records are not comprehensive. In a few cases the community names have been supplemented with information from a school’s quarterly returns, but this has not been done consistently. This project is an iterative, ongoing one. If you are aware of other community names that we should include in this list, or would like to comment on those we have updated, please email us at irshdc.reference@ubc.ca.

Coqualeetza (BC)

Dates of Operation

1886-1940

Settlement Agreement Dates

The Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement recognized only the following as the dates of operation for Coqualeetza Residential School: September 1, 1889 - June 30, 1940.

Description

Methodist missionaries opened a day school at Coqualeetza, BC in 1886. The following year, they added a residence for boarding students. A new school, built in 1889, burned down in 1891. Starting in the 1920s, the school began teaching Aboriginal handicrafts. The principal, in an effort to decrease the institutional nature of the school, introduced cottages for younger students and semi-private rooms for older students in the 1930s. When the school closed in 1940, students were transferred to the Alberni school and the school building became the Coqualeetza Indian Hospital. (National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation)

Denomination

Methodist Church, United Church of Canada

More Information

Alternate Name(s)

Chilliwack Home
Chilliwack Indian Industrial Institute
Coqualeetza Boarding School
Coqualeetza Home
Coqualeetza Hospital
Coqualeetza Hostel
Coqualeetza Indian Institute
Coqualeetza Industrial Institute
Coqualeetza Industrial School
Coqualeetza Institute
Coqualeetza Residential School
Coqualeetza Training Institute

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Map Information

Location

"Point is on the site of the main building of Coqualeetza Residential School building that was built in 1924 and used until the school closed in 1940. The main school building no longer exists on the site. The previous building (1894-1924) was located on the east side of the building that was opened in 1924. The site and buildings were used by the Coqualeetza Indian Hospital from 1941 to 1969. In the early 1970s, the Stolo Nation took control of the land and the buildings. The Coqualeetza Cultural Education Centre is now on the site of the former residential school" (Orlandini, 2019).

Location Credit

Rosa Orlandini. The school/hostel location data was collected by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission / National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, Morgan Hite (Atlas of Indian Residential Schools of Canada), Stephanie Pyne (Residential Schools Land Memory Mapping Project) and Rosa Orlandini (Map and GIS Librarian, York University Libraries). The location data and associated attribute data was enhanced, revised and updated by Rosa Orlandini, in consultation with the Archivists at the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

Location Source

Orlandini, Rosa, 2019, "Residential Schools Locations Dataset (Shapefile format)", https://doi.org/10.5683/SP2/FJG5TG, Borealis, V3, UNF:6:TTc1mMvx2BlBqBgIN05xVw== [fileUNF]