Item R00001353 - Quarterly Returns

Ermineskin Indian Residential School (IRS) was located approximately 2 miles west of Hobbema about 50 miles south of Edmonton in Treaty 6 territory. The residential school operated from 1895 - 1975 (80 years), officially closing on September 1, 1975.

Other names identifying the residential school include Ermineskin School (1877), Ermineskin’s Boarding School (1894), Hobbema IRS (1932), Ermineskin Indian School (1947), Ermineskin Indian Residential School (1955), Residential-Day School (1961), Ermineskin Indian Student Residence (1969), Hobbema Educational Complex (1969), Ermineskin Student Residence (1969), Ermineskin Hostel (1970), Ermineskin School Residence (1970), Ermineskin Residential School, Red Deer, Alberta (1971), Ermineskin Residence (1972), and Erministium School in Hobbema (1974).

The Government of Canada was responsible for funding, which was managed and operated by the Sisters of Assumption from 1895 - April 1, 1934. From April 1, 1934, to September 1, 1955, the school was managed by order of the Oblate Fathers, Roman Catholic (R.C.) Church and the residence were managed by order of the Oblate Fathers from April 1, 1934, to April 1, 1969. The residential school became a government-owned on April 1, 1955, and the government took over administration of the residence on April 1, 1969.

In 1911, there was a standard agreement for the residential school operation, complete and signed.

On September 25, 1962, an agreement between the government and INDIANESCOM (Oblate Indian-Eskimo Commission) for the operation of the residential school.

There is scant reference as to which grades were available at the residential school; however, in 1959 a grade 12 class was taught without approval from the government, in 1965 the first kindergarten class started on November 22, and in 1971 the school was administratively divided into the following institutions:

1. Ermineskin Kindergarten School;

2. Ermineskin Primary School; and

3. Ermineskin Elementary-Junior High School.

Students came from other communities, including Alexander, Alexis, Beaver Lake, Big Stone, Cold Lake, Enoch, Ermineskin, Heart Lake, Kehewin, Louis Bull, Montana, Paul’s, Poundmaker, Saddle Lake, Samson, Sarcee, Sunchild, and Winterburn.

Student enrolment statistics are inconsistent up to 1922 but improved after 1926 with a few missing years. The first year of operation had a low enrolment of 20 students with a high of 263 in 1956.