Item R00001487 - Quarterly Returns

Old Sun Indian Residential School (IRS) was located on Blackfoot Reserve (Siksika Nation) within the Treaty 7 area four miles from the town of Gleichen, southeast of Calgary. It operated from 1886 - 1971 (85 years).

Other names identifying the residential school include Old Sun Boarding School (1886), White Eagle Boarding School (1889 - 1901), Old Sun’s Boarding School (1895 - 1925), Old Sun Boarding School (1901 - 1908), Blackfoot (Old Suns) Church of England Boarding School (1911), Old Sun’s Indian Boarding School (1921), Old Sun School (1921), Old Sun Indian Residential School (1926 - 1968), and Old Sun Student Residence (1968 - 1971).

The Government of Canada was responsible for funding the school, which was managed and operated by the Missionary Society of the Church of England in Canada from 1891 - 1960. The school was managed and operated by the federal government from April 1, 1969.

In 1911, an agreement between His Majesty the King and Rt. Rev. Cyprian Pinkham, D.D. D.C.L. Bishop of Calgary. In 1912, an agreement between the government and Right Reverend Cyprian Pinkham, Bishop of the Diocese of Calgary, regarding the operation of the school was signed. In 1962, an agreement between Her Majesty the Queen and the Missionary Society of the Anglican Church of Canada. In 1971, an operating agreement between the government and Mount Royal College provided for the operation of an adult learning center in the Old Sun Residence.

There is minimal information regarding what grades were taught, except for 1965-66 kindergarten and grade 1 and 1967 kindergarten.

Students from the following communities, Blood Band, Peigan Band, and the Crowfoot Reserve, attended the school from 1956 - 1962.

Student enrolment statistics are available for selected years, from 1899 - 1921 and for every year from 1923 – 1970, which depicts a low enrolment of 30 students in 1912 and a high of 161 in 1959. Student enrolment statistics for 1971 - 1975 include day school students, not in residence.