© 2006 Aboriginal Healing Foundation Published by: Aboriginal Healing Foundation 75 Albert Street, Suite 801, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5E7 Phone: (613) 237-4441 Toll-free: (888) 725-8886 Fax: (613) 237-4442 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.ahf.ca Design & Production: Aboriginal Healing Foundation Printed by: Dollco Printing ISBN 1-897285-35-3 Unauthorized use of the name “Aboriginal Healing Foundation” and of the Foundation’s logo is prohibited. Non-commercial reproduction of this document is, however, encouraged. This project was funded by the Aboriginal Healing Foundation but the views expressed in this report are the personal views of the author(s). Ce document est aussi disponible en français. Métis History and Experience and Residential Schools in Canada Prepared for The Aboriginal Healing Foundation by Larry N. Chartrand Tricia E. Logan Judy D. Daniels 2006 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................... 1 MÉtiS rESidEntiAL.SCHooL.PArticiPAtion:.A.LitERAturE rEVIEW............. 5 Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................................7 Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................9 Introduction..............................................................................................................................................11 Methodology ............................................................................................................................................11 Synthesis ...................................................................................................................................................12 Historical Background ......................................................................................................................12 Métis Participation in Residential Schools: Social and Policy Rationale ...................................18 The Impact of Residential Schools on the Métis ...........................................................................21 Conclusions and Future Research ..........................................................................................................23 Annotated Bibliography ..........................................................................................................................25 Summary of Unpublished Material .......................................................................................................40 Bibliography (not annotated) .................................................................................................................51 Appendix A: Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples Research Reports Extracts .....................53 LOSt GENERAtionS:.THE SiLEnt MÉtiS oF tHE.RESidEntiAL ScHooL. SYSTEM:.REVISEd IntEriM.REPort................................................................................ 57 Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................................59 Introduction..............................................................................................................................................61 Use of Terms ......................................................................................................................................64 Métis History ....................................................................................................................................65 Chapter 1: The Métis and Residential Schools: An Historical Overview ....................................67 Métis Attendance Factors................................................................................................74 Chapter 2: The Experiences of Métis Students: “We Were Outsiders” ........................................77 Chapter 3: The Future of Residential School Issues: Métis Involvement and Intergenerational Impacts ...............................................................................................83 Appendix A: Summary of Effects of Residential Schools by Elders at the 1993 Conference ........87 Appendix B: General Discussion on Residential Schools at the Southwest Region Manitoba Métis Federation Regional Meeting, 24 June 2000 ......................................................89 ANCESTRAL PAIN:.méTIS MEMORIes.Of.RESIDENTIAL SCHOOl.pROJECT......... 95 Acknowledgments ....................................................................................................................................97 Introduction..............................................................................................................................................99 Who are the Métis? .............................................................................................................................. 103 A Brief History of the Residential School System ........................................................................... 109 Métis Education in Canada and the West ......................................................................................... 113 Indian Affairs Admission Policy for Métis Students ........................................................................ 115 Grouard, Joussard and Fort Vermilion Residential Schools ............................................................ 121 Grouard - St. Bernard’s Indian Residential School .................................................................... 121 Fort Vermilion - St. Henri Indian Residential School ............................................................... 123 Joussard - St. Bruno Indian Residential School.......................................................................... 124 St. Joseph’s Industrial School (also called Dunbow Industrial School) .......................................... 131 Edmonton Agency and Onion Lake Agency ..................................................................................... 135 Blue Quills Indian Residential School ............................................................................................... 137 The 1936 Ewing Commission Report ................................................................................................ 141 Métis Education in Alberta – A 1960 Study..................................................................................... 143 Pedagogy of Indian Residential Schools ............................................................................................ 147 Quality of Teachers ............................................................................................................................... 151 Residential School Food ...................................................................................................................... 153 Health in Residential Schools ............................................................................................................. 155 Métis Students – The Outsiders ......................................................................................................... 161 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................ 163 Appendix A: History of Métis in Alberta ......................................................................................... 165 Appendix B: Key Aspects of Métis Tradition .................................................................................. 167 Métis Flag ........................................................................................................................................ 167 Métis Sash ....................................................................................................................................... 168 Red River Métis Cart ..................................................................................................................... 169 Louis “David” Riel .......................................................................................................................... 170 Angelique and Marguerite Nolin: “Misses Nolin” of Red River ............................................... 173 Appendix C: Typed Version of Original Documents ...................................................................... 175 Appendix D: Schools Operated by Indian Affairs Branch – Alberta Region (1964) ................. 181 References.and.Bibliography.......................................................................................................... 183 Introduction Despite direct assimilation attempts Despite the Residential School Systems Despite the strong influences of the Church in Metis communities to ignore and deny our Aboriginal heritage Despite not having a land base And despite our own diversity in heritage We are still able to say we are proud to be Metis We are resilient as a weed, and beautiful as a wildflower We have much to celebrate and be proud of (Christi Belcourt) The story of the Métis and residential schools is not new; it is, though, a story that has been underemphasized for a long time in the realms of both residential school and Métis history. Throughout the twentieth century, the collective lives of the Métis have often been disconnected from other dominant community structures in Canada. The policies that were