Battleford Industrial School

Battleford Industrial School was a Canadian Indian residential school for First Nations children in Battleford, Northwest Territories (now Saskatchewan) operating from 1883 to 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." 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. The male students were ofte

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