IRSHDC : School : Sechelt (BC) [877]

Indian School, Sechelt, BC (192?). Source: Image item B-00445 courtesy of the BC Archives.

Home Communities of Students

Adams Lake Indian Band, Alert Bay, Ashcroft Indian Band, Cheam First Nation, Chilliwack, Coldwater Indian Band, Cowessess First Nation, Cowichan, Da’naxda’xw First Nation, Haisla Nation, Hesquith, High Bar First Nation, Homalco First Nation, K’ómoks First Nation, Katsie, Katz, Klahoose First Nation, Kwawkwelth, kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem First Nation), Leq’á:mel First Nation, Líl̓wat Nation, ʼNa̱mǥis First Nation, N’Quatqua, Nuxalk Nation, O’Hawel, Port Alberni, Samaliquam, scəẃaθən məsteyəxʷ (Tsawwassen First Nation), Seabird Island Band, Semiahmoo First Nation, shíshálh Nation, Shxwhá:y Village, Skeah, Skwah First Nation, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), Snuneymuxw First Nation, Spuzzum First Nation, Sq'éwlets, Sq’ewá:lxw (Skawahlook First Nation), Sts’ailes, Stz’uminus First Nation, Tla’amin Nation (ɬaʔəmen Nation), Tsaw, Tsawout First Nation (SȾÁUTW̱ FIRST NATION), Tsleil-Waututh Nation, Union Bar, Wuikinuxv Nation, Xa’xtsa (Douglas First Nation), Xaxli’p, 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.

Sechelt (BC)

Dates of Operation

July 28, 1904 - June 30, 1975

Description

With the encouragement of Oblate missionaries and the Roman Catholic bishop of New Westminster, members of the Sechelt band started construction of a residential school in 1903. The school opened the following year under Roman Catholic administration and was funded by the federal government from 1905 onwards. The original building was destroyed by fire in 1917. In 1923 the parents withdrew their children from the school to protest the poor quality of education, harsh discipline, and inadequate diet. The protest led to the appointment of a new principal and an increase in school funding. The facility closed in June 1975. (National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation)

Denomination

Catholic Church

More Information

Alternate Name(s)

Indian Residential School, Sechelt
Our Lady of Lourdes
Sechelt (Indian) Residential School
Sechelt Boarding School
Sechelt Indian Boarding School
Sechelt Indian School
Sechelt Indian Student Residence
Sechelt Industrial School
Sechelt Student Residence
St. Augustine's

Permalink

Map Information

Location

"Point is on the site of the main building of the Sechelt Residential School. It was constructed in 1922 and torn down in the mid 1970s. The school property was situated in Lot 74 on 4 acres of land. The first school built in 1904 and burnt down in 1917 and the temporary buildings (1917-1923) were situated on the same site. The House of héwhiwus, government, education and cultural centre are now located on the site" (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]