LHF Videos

Legacy of Hope Foundation

See how the Legacy of Hope Foundation is educating Canadians on the history of Indian Residential Schools. This video was produced by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada and was filmed in October 2013.

Duration: 2:56

Our Stories… Our Strength

One of the Legacy of Hope Foundation’s largest and most important projects has been Our Stories… Our Strength, a national commemoration and education project that collects, organizes and shares the stories of Residential School Survivors and others affected by residential schools. Hear the powerful and moving interview excerpts from two Residential School Survivors.

Duration: 7:14

We Were So Far Away

Eight Survivors, two from each of the Inuit geographic regions – Nunavik, Nunavut, Nunatsiavut and the Inuvialuit Settlement Region – courageously and generously shared their stories

with the LHF in May 2008.

Duration: 26:07

Where are the Children

This video accompanies the Where are the Children? exhibition and includes Survivor testimony and provides an introduction to the Indian Residential School System.

Duration: 27:49

The Day of the Apology

A video which provides highlights of June 11, 2008, the day the Prime Minister of Canada issued an apology for the Indian Residential Schools system.

Reading List

The following reading list is a selection of the growing number of publications that document the history and legacy of residential schools. It is by no means complete and is a work in progress.

For Younger Readers

Ages 4–8

Campbell, Nicola I., with illustrations by Kim LeFave. Shin-chi’s Canoe. Toronto, ON: Groundwood/House of Anansi, 2008.

Campbell, Nicola I., with illustrations by Kim LeFave. Shi-shi-etko. Toronto, ON: Groundwood/House of

Anansi, 2005.

Kusugak, Michael Arvaarluk. Arctic Stories. Illustrated by Vladyana Langer Krykorka. Toronto, ON: Annick Press Ltd., 1998.

Ages 9–12

Jordan-Fenton, Christy and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton. A Stranger at Home. Toronto, ON: Annick Press, 2011.

Jordan-Fenton, Christy and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton. Fatty Legs. Toronto, ON: Annick Press, 2010.

Loyie, Larry. As Long As The Rivers Flow, illustrations by Constance Brissenden. Toronto, ON: Groundwood

Books, 2002.

Olsen, Sylvia, Rita Morris, and Ann Sam. No Time to Say Goodbye: Children’s Stories of Kuper Island Residential School. Winlow, BC: Sono Nis Press, 2001.

Sterling, Shirley. My Name is Seepeetza. Vancouver, BC: Douglas & McIntyre, 1993.

Ages 12–14

Hill, Gord. 500 Years of Resistance Comic Book. Toronto, ON: University of Toronto Press, 2010.

Loyie, Larry, with illustrations by Constance Brissenden. Goodbye Buffalo Bay. Penticton, BC: Theytus

Books, 2009.

Adult

History

Adams, Howard. Prisons of Grass. Saskatoon, SK: Fifth House Publishers, Revised Edition, 1989.

Barman,

Jean and Jan Hare. Good Intentions Gone Awry: Emma Crosby and the Methodist Mission on the

Northwest Coast. Vancouver, BC: University of British Columbia Press, 2007.

Berger, Thomas. Northern Frontier, Northern Homeland: the Report of the Mckenzie Valley Pipeline

Inquiry. Ottawa, ON: Minister of Supply and Services Canada, 1977.

Cariboo Tribal Council. Impact of the Residential School. Williams Lake, BC, 1991.

Chartrand, Larry N., Tricia E. Logan, and Judy D. Daniels. Métis History and Experience and Residential Schools in Canada/Histoire et expériences des Métis et les pensionnats au Canada. Ottawa, ON: Aboriginal Healing Foundation, 2006.

Deiter, Constance. From Our Mothers’ Arms: The Intergenerational Impact of Residential Schools in

Saskatchewan. Toronto, ON: United Church Publishing House, 1999.

Dickason, Olive Patricia. Canada’s First Nations: A History of Founding Peoples From Earliest Times. Toronto, ON: McClelland and Stewart, 1992.

Grant, Agnes. No End of Grief: Indian Residential Schools in Canada. Winnipeg, MB: Pemmican, 1996.

Huel, Raymond J.A. Proclaiming the Gospel to the Indians and Métis. Edmonton, AB: University of Alberta Press, 1996.

Jaine, Linda. Residential Schools: The Stolen Years. Saskatoon, SK: University of Saskatchewan, University

Extension Press, 1993.

King, David. A Brief Report of the Federal Government of Canada’s Residential School System for Inuit/Bref

compte-rendu du Régime du pensionnats pour les Inuit du gouvernement fédéral du Canada. Ottawa, ON: Aboriginal Healing Foundation, 2006.

Lascelles, Thomas A. Roman Catholic Indian Residential Schools in British Columbia. Order of OMI in BC, 1990.

Métis Nation of Alberta. Métis Memories of Residential Schools: A Testament to the Strength of the Métis.

Edmonton, AB: Métis Nation of Alberta, 2004.

Miller, J.R. Shingwauk’s Vision: A History of Native Residential Schools. Toronto, ON: University of

Toronto Press, 1996.

Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council. Indian Residential Schools: The Nuu-chah-nulth Experience. Port Alberni, BC: Nuu-chahnulth Tribal Council, 1996.

Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP). Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, Volume 1, Chapter 10: “Residential Schools”. Ottawa, ON: Minister of Supply and Services Canada, 1996.

Titley, E. Brian. A Narrow Vision: Duncan Campbell Scott and the Administration of Indian Affairs in Canada. Vancouver, BC: University of British Columbia Press, 1986.

Van Kirk, Sylvia. Many Tender Ties: Women In Fur-Trade Society, 1670–1870. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 1980.

Younging, Gregory, Jonathan Dewar, and Mike DeGagné, eds. Response, Responsibility, and Renewal: Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Journey/Réponse, responsabilité et renouveau. Cheminement du Canada vers la vérité et la réconciliation. Ottawa, ON: Aboriginal Healing Foundation, 2009.

Memoirs

Ahenakew, Edward. Voices of the Plains Cree. Toronto, ON: McClelland & Stewart, 1973.

Apakark Thrasher, Anthony. Skid Row Eskimo. Toronto, ON: Griffin House, 1976.

Blondine-Perrin, Alice. My Heart Shook Like a Drum. Nepean, ON: Borealis Press, 2009.

Brass, Eleanor. I Walk in Two Worlds. Calgary, AB: Glenbow Museum, 1987.

Campbell, Maria. Halfbreed. Halifax, NS: Formac Publishing Company Limited, 1973.

Dandurand, Joseph A. Looking into the Eyes of My Forgotten Dreams. Wiarton, ON: Kegedonce Press, 1998.

Ennamorato, Judith. Sing the Brave Song. New York, NY: Raven Press, 1999.

Fontaine, Theodore. Broken Circle: The Dark Legacy of Indian Residential Schools: A Memoir. Victoria, BC:

Heritage House, 2010.

French, Alice. My Name is Masak. Winnipeg, MB: Peguis, 1976.

Goodwill, Jean and Norma Sluman, eds. John Tootoosis. Winnipeg, MB: Pemmican, 1990.

Residential Schools

Dyck, Noel. Differing Visions: Administering Indian Residential Schooling in Prince Albert, 1867–1967.

Hubbards: Fernwood Publishing, 1997.

Furniss, Elizabeth. Victims of Benevolence: The Dark Legacy of the Williams Lake Residential School.

Vancouver, BC: Arsenal Pulp Press, 1995.

Glavin, Terry and former students of St. Mary’s. Amongst God’s Own: The Enduring Legacy of St. Mary’s Mission. Mission, BC: Longhouse Publishing, 2002.

Graham, Elizabeth. The Mush Hole: Life at Two Indian Residential Schools. Waterloo, ON: Heffle

Publishing, 1997.

Grant, Agnes. Finding My Talk: How Fourteen Canadian Native Women Reclaimed their Lives after Residential

School. Markham, ON: Fifth House Books, 2004.

Haig-Brown. Resistance and Renewal: Surviving the Indian Residential School. Vancouver, BC: Arsenal Pulp

Press, 1988.

Jack, Agnes. Behind Closed Doors: Stories from the Kamloops Indian Residential School. Penticton, BC:

Theytus Books, 2006.

Joe, Rita with Lynn Henry. Song of Rita Joe: Autobiography of a Mi’kmaq Poet. Charlottetown, PE:

Ragweed Press, 1996.

Johnston, Basil H. Indian School Days. Toronto, ON: Key Porter Books, 1988.

Kennedy, Dan. Recollections of an Assiniboine Chief. Toronto, ON: McClelland & Stewart, 1972.

Knockwood, Isabelle. Out of the Depths: The Experiences of Mi’kmaw Children at the Indian Residential School

at Shubenacadie, N.S. Hubbards, NS: Roseway Publishing, 1994.

Lawrence, Mary. My People, Myself. Halfmoon Bay, BC: Caitlin Press, 1996.

Moran, Bridget. Stoney Creek Woman: The Story of Mary John. Vancouver, BC: Arsenal Pulp Press, 1997.

Willis, Jane. Geniesh: An Indian Girlhood. Toronto, ON: New Press, 1973.

Legacy and Reconciliation

Assembly of First Nations. Breaking the Silence: An Interpretive Study of Residential School Impact and

Healing, as Illustrated by the Stories of First Nation Individuals. Ottawa, ON: Assembly of First Nations, 1994.

Battiste, Marie and Jean Barman, eds. First Nations Education in Canada: The Circle Unfolds. Vancouver, BC:

University of British Columbia Press, 1995.

Burnaby, Barbara. Languages and Their Role in Educating Native Children. Toronto, ON: Ontario Institute for

Studies in Education Press, 1980.

Castellano, Marlene Brant, Linda Archibald, and Mike DeGagné, eds. From Truth to Reconciliation:

Transforming the Legacy of residential schools/De la vérité à la réconciliation. Transformer l’héritage

des pensionnats. Ottawa, ON: Aboriginal Healing Foundation, 2008.

Chrisjohn, Roland, Andrea Bear Nicholas, Karen Stote, James Craven (Omahkohkiaayo i’poyi), Tanya Wasacase, Pierre Loiselle, and Andrea O. Smith. An Historic Non-Apology, Completely and Utterly Not Accepted.

http://www.marxmail.org/ApologyNotAccepted.htm

Chrisjohn, Roland and Sherri Young. The Circle Game: Shadows and Substance in the Indian Residential School Experience. Penticton, BC: Theytus Books, 1997.

Crey, Ernie and Suzanne Fournier. Stolen From Our Embrace: Abduction of First Nation Children and the

Restoration of Aboriginal Communities. Toronto, ON: Douglas & McIntyre, 1997.

Regan, Paulette. Unsettling the Settler Within: Indian Residential Schools, Truth Telling, and Reconciliation in

Canada. Vancouver, BC: University of British Columbia Press, 2010.

Schissel, Bernard and Terry Wotherspoon. The Legacy of School for Aboriginal People: Education, Oppression, and Emancipation. Don Mills, ON: Oxford University Press, 2003.

Wadden, Marie. Where the Pavement Ends: Canada’s Aboriginal Recovery Movement and the Urgent Need for

Reconciliation. Toronto, ON: Douglas & McIntyre, 2008.

Fiction

Alexie, Robert Arthur. Porcupines and China Dolls. Don Mills, ON: Stoddart, 2009.

Akiwenzie-Damm, Kateri and Josie Douglas, eds. Skins: Contemporary Indigenous Writing. Wiarton, ON:

Kegedonce Press and Alice Springs: Jukurrpa Books, 2000.

Armstong, Jeannette. Slash, Revised. Penticton, BC: Theytus Books, 2007.

Blue Cloud, Peter. “Weaver Spider’s Web.” In All My Relations: An Anthology of Contemporary Canadian

Native Fiction, ed. Thomas King. Toronto, ON: McClelland & Stewart, 1990.

Boyden, Joseph. Born With a Tooth. Toronto, ON: Cormorant Books, 2009.

Gedalof, Robin, ed. Paper Stays Put: A Collection of Inuit Writing. Edmonton, AB: Hurtig Publishers, 1980.

Ipellie, Alootook. Arctic Dreams and Nightmares. Penticton, BC: Theytus Books, 1993.

Maracle, Lee. Ravensong: A Novel. Vancouver, BC: Press Gang Publishers, 1993.

Moses, Daniel David and Terry Goldie, eds. An Anthology of Canadian Native Literature in English. Toronto, ON: Oxford University Press, 1998.

Mosionier, Beatrice Culleton. In Search of April Raintree. Winnipeg, MB: Pemmican, 1999.

Plays

Highway, Tomson. Dry Lips Oughta Move To Kapuskasing. Saskatoon, SK: Fifth House Publishing, 1989.

. Kiss of the Fur Queen. Toronto, ON: Doubleday, 1998.

. The Rez Sisters. Saskatoon, SK: Fifth House Publishing, 1988.

Lakevold, Dale and Darrell Racine. Misty Lake: A Play. Winnipeg, MB: Loon Books, 2006.

Loring, Kevin. Where the Blood Mixes: A Play. Vancouver, BC: Talon Books, 2009.

Loyie, Larry and Vera Manuel. Two Plays About Residential School. Vancouver, BC: Living Traditions, 1998.

Moses, Daniel David. Brebeuf’s Ghost. Toronto, ON: Exile Editions, 2000.

Simon, Lorne Joseph. Stones and Switches. Penticton, BC: Theytus Books, 1994.

Taylor, Drew Hayden. Toronto at Dreamer’s Rock. Education is Our Right: Two One-Act Plays. Saskatoon, SK:

Fifth House Publishers, 1990.

Poetry

Armstrong, Jeannette and Lally Grauer, eds. Native Poetry in Canada: A Contemporary Anthology. Peterborough, ON: Broadview Press, 2001.

Dumont, Marilyn. A Really Good Brown Girl. London, ON : Brick Books, 1996.

Dumont, Marilyn. That Tongued Belonging. Wiarton, ON: Kegedonce Press, 2007.

Johnson, Emily Pauline. Flint and Feather. 1912. Reprint, Toronto, ON: Guardian Printing for Chiefswood National Historic Site, 1997.

Joe, Rita. Poems of Rita Joe. Halifax, NS: Abanaki Press, 1978.

. Songs of Eskasoni. Charlottetown, PE: Ragweed Press, 1988.

Redbird, Duke. Loveshine and Red Wine. Elliot Lake, ON: Woodland Studios Publishing, 1981.

Ruffo, Armand Garnet. Opening in the Sky. Penticton, BC: Theytus Books, 1994.

International Experiences

Adams, David Wallace. Education for Extinction: American Indians and the Boarding School Experience 1875–1928. Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas, 1997.

Bartels, Dennis A. and Alice L. Bartels. When the North Was Red: Aboriginal Education in Soviet Siberia.

Montreal, QC: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 1995.

Child, Brenda J. Boarding School Seasons: American Indian Families 1900–1940. Lincoln, NE: University of

Nebraska Press, 2000.

Ellis, Clyde. To Change Them Forever: Indian Education at the Rainy Mountain Boarding School, 1893–1920.

Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma, 1996.

Lomawaima, K. Tsianina. They Called it Prairie Light: The Story of the Chilocco Indian School. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, 1995.

Aboriginal Healing Foundation

The Aboriginal Healing Foundation (AHF) has many resources on the Residential School System in Canada. Click here to access AHF publications.

We Were So Far Away

Click here to learn more about the Inuit experience of residential schools