IRSHDC : School : St. Michael's (BC) [876]

St-Michael's Indian Residential School (undated). Source: Canada. Dept. of Indian Affairs and Northern Development / Library and Archives Canada / PA-203103.

Home Communities of Students

Dan’naxda’xw First Nation, Dzawada̱ʼenux̱w First Nation, Gilford Island, Gitanyow, Gitga’at First Nation, Gitlaxt’aamiks, Gitwangak, Gitxaała Nation, Gwa'Sala-'Nakwaxda'xw Nations, Gwawaenuk, Haisla Nation, Heiltsuk Nation, Kitasoo (Xai’xais Nation), Kitselas Nation, Kitsumkalum Band, Kwawawain, Kwawkewlth, Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis First Nation, Lax Kw’alaams Band, Mamalilikulla First Nation, Metlakatla First Nation, ʼNa̱mǥis First Nation, Nisga’a Nation, Nisga'a Village of Gingolx, Nisga’a Village of Gitwinksihlkw, Nisga’a Village of Laxgalts’ap, Nuxalk Nation, Old Massett Village, Port Essington, Quatsino First Nation, Skidegate, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), T'ɫat'ɫasik'wa̠la First Nation, Tlowitsis Nation, Tsimshian [Tsimpsheen], Wei Wai Kai First Nation, Wei Wai Kum First Nation, Wuikinuxv 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.

St. Michael's (BC)

Dates of Operation

January 1, 1894 – December 31, 1974

Description

The Anglican Church established a day school at its mission in Alert Bay, British Columbia in 1878. It opened a small boarding school there in 1882 and an industrial school in 1894. In 1929, a new building was constructed. The school was known for the arts and crafts produced by the students and the two large totem poles in front of the school building. In 1947, two-dozen children ran away from the school. The subsequent investigation into conditions at the school led to the resignation of both the principal and the vice-principal. By 1969, when the federal government assumed administration of the school, all residents were attending local schools. The residence closed in 1974. (National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation)

Denomination

Anglican Church of Canada

More Information

Alternate Name(s)

St. Michael's Student Residence
Alert Bay Boys' Home
Alert Bay Girls' Home
Alert Bay Industrial School
Alert Bay Residential School
Alert Bay Student Residence
Boys Industrial School
Indian Girls' Home at Alert Bay
Indian Residential School, Alert Bay
Residential School for Boys
St. Michael's Hostel
St. Michael's Indian School
St. Mike's

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Map Information

Location

"Point is on the main residential school building that was constructed in 1929 and used as a school until 1974. A ceremony was held in February 2015 to mark the demolition of the school building. Prior to 1927, there was a boy's residential building and girl's residential building on the same site" (Orlandini, 2019).

Location Credit

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. 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]