Item 10a-c000007-d0059-001 - No title

Fort George Roman Catholic Indian Residential School (IRS) was located on an island at the mouth of the Fort George (now La Grande) River on the east coast of James Bay. The IRS operated from 1937 – 1981 (44 years) under Roman Catholic administration.

Other names identifying the residential school were Fort George Roman Catholic Indian Residential School, Ecole Ste. Thérèse-de-l’Enfant-Jésus, Ste. Therese R.C. Indian Residential School, Ste. Theresa of the Infant Jesus R.C. School, St. Theresa’s School, Ste. Therese Residence, and Couture Student Residence (1972) (all dates not specified).

The Government of Canada was responsible for funding the school and was managed and operated on behalf of the government by the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of James Bay from 1938 - 1978. Funding and other administrative control of student residence became the Quebec Regional Office of Indian Affairs’ responsibility at the beginning of the current fiscal year in 1976. On July 1, 1978, Ste. Therese School and Couture Residence were leased to the Cree School Board. In 1979, Kativik School Authority is now responsible for the student residence.

In 1971, a contract with INDIANESCOM covered advisory and liaison duties connected with Indian Student residence for one year beginning April 1.

In 1974, a contract with Oblate Indian & Eskimo Council covering coordinating and liaison duties in connection with Indian Student residence was signed on June 10.

1975 While government-owned residential schools were covered by October 19, 1961, operation agreements, there were no formal agreements with the Oblates specifically covering the school.

1977 While the school operates under Treasury Board Minute # 585658 dated October 19, 1961, as a church-owned residence, a service contract between the Department and the Couture Residence was made on January 19, 1972, but was never signed.

1978 There is a formal agreement with the residence; it has operated under an oral understanding with the Department; correspondence which construed to a legal agreement was destroyed in flood.

Information regarding grades taught at the IRS include the following;
1937-1938 Fort George R.C. school first appears on the Department of Mines and Resources Annual Report, offering grades 1 to 5.

1952 School offers grades 1 to 6.

1961 Principal informs regional superintendent that he will begin to offer grades 7 and 8 in the fall; the previous agreement was for grades up to 6.

1961 Principal’s January monthly report indicates grade 7 being offered.
1961 Principal’s monthly reports for March and May indicate that a grade 9-day pupil was attending school.

1966 School offers kindergarten to grade 6.

1966 School was to be restricted to grades 1 to 6, after which pupils would be sent to La Tuque. The administrator ignored this Departmental directive as in 1966/67; there was still a
combined class of grades 6 to 8.

1967-1968 Beginning in September, grade pre 1/kindergarten to 7 are offered; although, in

1970/71, school is still listed as being for grades 1 to 8.

1971 School offers kindergarten to grade 6.

Students were ‘recruited’ from the following reserves, bands, agencies, or regions; Fort George; Rupert House; Pointe Blue; Old Factory; Moose Fort; Albany; Moosonee; Attawapiscat; Eastmain; Paint Hills; West Coast; East coast of James Bay; and Great Whale River.

Student enrolment statistics at the IRS are relatively erratic for the first 15 years but more consistent from 1952/53 to 1958/59, then recording quarterly enrolment figures from 1959/60 to 1974/75 then less regular again from 1975/76 to 1978/79 and nothing for 1979/80 and 1980/81. Average student enrolment is indicated in figure 2, with a low of 10 in 1937/38 to a high of 89 students in 1964/65.