| Battleford Industrial School | |
|---|---|
 Battleford Industrial School (c. 1877–1883) | |
| Location | |
 | |
Battleford, Northwest Territories (now Saskatchewan) | |
| Information | |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Anglican |
| Established | 1883 |
| Closed | 1914 |
Battleford Industrial School was a Canadian Indian residential school for First Nations children in Battleford, Northwest Territories (now Saskatchewan) operating from 1883-1914. It was the first residential school operated by the Government of Canada with the aim of assimilating Indigenous people into the society of the settlers.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada noted in its final report:
"The opening of the Battleford industrial school in 1883 marked a turning point in Canada’s direct involvement in residential schooling for Aboriginal people. Prior to that, the federal government had provided only small grants to boarding schools in Ontario and the Northwest that had been founded and operated by Christian missionary organizations. By 1884, there were three industrial schools in operation: Battleford, High River, and Qu’Appelle."[1]
Battleford Industrial School was therefore the first Indian Industrial / Residential School opened in Canada that was directed and funded solely by the Department of Indian Affairs rather than by a church which sought funding from the government. The school was opened as an “industrial” school where children lived and attended school for a few hours per day, but also worked in various occupational roles within the school such as the dairy, bakery, printshop, laundry, carpentry, shoe making, and farming.[2] The male students were often sent out as cheap labour for farmers harvesting produce or constructing buildings. They were also employed to construct buildings in the community.[2] Girls would be sent out for periods of time “on service” as cheap labour for families in the region where they would work as nannies or help in family homes.[2] Battleford Industrial School was run by the Anglican Church with Department of Indian Affairs / Government of Canada funding from 1883-1914 when it was closed.[1]
The school was one of three industrial schools opened by the Government of Canada in the early 1880s.[3]: 57 The senior officials of the Department of Indian Affairs arranged for various religious denominations to administer and operate the schools.[2] The federal government delegated responsibility for the Battleford school to an Anglican minister.[3]: 57
- ^ a b https://ehprnh2mwo3.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Volume_1_History_Part_1_English_Web.pdf
- ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference
Wasylowwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Honouring the truth, reconciling for the future : summary of the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (PDF). [Winnipeg, Manitoba]. 2015. ISBN 978-0-660-02078-5. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)