31 Residential School History Facts
Seneca College
While the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Report covers the history of residential schools extensively, here are some quick facts about residential schools.
Infographic Description: Facts about Residential Schools
- They existed from early 1800’s to late 1900’s
- They were government funded and mainly church-run
- 150,000+ Indigenous children attended these schools (around ages 4-16)
- The purpose of these schools was to assimilate Indigenous children to Christian European ways
- Many survivors of these schools reported emotional, physical, spiritual, sexual, and mental abuse
- 1 in 25 children died in these schools due to poor conditions, not enough nutrition provided, and attempts to escape the schools
- The last residential school closed in 1996
You can also visit the Residential Schools Timeline on the Canadian Encyclopaedia website.
