IRSHDC : School : Lejac (BC) [871]

No name (unknown date). Source: Deschâtelets-NDC Archives.

Home Communities of Students

Atlin-Teslin Lake, Bear Lake, Binche Whut’en, Carriers, Cheslatta Carrier Nation, Daylu Dena Nation, Decker Lake, Findlay River, Finlay Forks, Finlay River, Forestdale/Forest Dale, Fort Grahame, Fort Nelson First Nation, Gitanmaax Band, Gitga’at First Nation, Gitwangak, Hagwilget Village (Tse-Kya), Houston, Hudson Hope, Kitselas Nation, Kwadacha Nation, Lake Babine Nation, Lheidli T'enneh First Nation, Lhoosk'uz Dené Nation, Manson Creek, Maxim Lake, McDame, McLeod Lake Indian Band, Mosim Lake, Nadleh Whut’en First Nation, Nak’azdli Whut’en, Nazko First Nation, Nee Tahi Buhn, Portage, Saik'uz First Nation, Sekani [Sekanis], Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), Southbank, Stellat’en First Nation, Stuart Lake, Tahltan Band, Takla Nation, Taku River Tlingit First Nation, Telegraph Creek, Telkwa, Tl'azt'en Nation, Ts’il Kaz Koh, Tsay Keh Dene Nation, Uncha Lake, Wet'suwet'en, Wistaria, Witset First Nation, Yekooche First Nation.

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.

Lejac (BC)

Dates of Operation

February 2, 1917 - June 30, 1976

Description

The Lejac or Fraser Lake School opened in 1922 when it was moved from Stuart Lake, BC. It was located on the south side of Fraser Lake, BC. In January 1937, four boys, who had run away from the school, froze to death on Fraser Lake. The coroner criticized the school’s “excessive corporal punishment” and their failure to conduct an effective search. In the following decade parents wrote letters protesting the school’s harsh conditions, often refusing enroll their children in the school. The school closed in 1976. (National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation)

Denomination

Catholic Church

More Information

Alternate Name(s)

Fraser Lake
Fraser Lake Boarding School
Fraser Lake Indian Boarding School
Fraser Lake Indian Industrial School
Fraser Lake Indian Residential School
Fraser Lake Indian School
Fraser Lake Industrial School
Lejac Indian Residential School
Lejac Student Residence
Stuart Lake
Stuart Lake Boarding School

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Map Information

Location

Stuart Lake location, 1917-1922: "Point is on the site of one of the buildings at Stuart Lake Mission school, in Fort St. James. The school was at this location from 1917 to 1992. The largest building was the boy's residence. Next to that is the classroom building and the adjoining girls' residence. The school is located between the church and the cemetery" (Orlandini, 2019).

Fraser Lake location, 1922-1976: "Point is on the site of the main building of the Lejac Residential School. The building was constructed in 1922 and closed in 1976. The building no longer exists. There is a graveyard on the property located at 54.06421 -124.760289" (Orlandini, 2019).

Location Credit

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation and 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]