Item R00001656 - Quarterly Returns

Joussard Indian Residential School (IRS) was located on the south shore of the Lesser Slave Lake between the Sucker Creek and Driftpile Reserves, about 15 miles from the village of Grouard in Treaty 8 territory. The residential school operated from 1913 - 1969 (56 years), officially closing on October 31, 1969.

Other names identifying the residential school include: from 1913 - 1923 St. Bruno’s Roman Catholic Mission School or St. Bruno’s Mission Boarding School, and Saint Bruno’s School. From 1923 - 1937, St. Bruno’s Indian School or St. Bruno’s Indian Residential School; and from 1937 - 1969 as Joussard Indian Residential School. The IRS was also known as the Roman Catholic School at the south shore of Lesser Slave Lake or the new school at Lesser Slave Lake.

The Government of Canada was responsible for funding, which was managed and operated by the Roman Catholic Episcopal Corporation of Grouard and the Oblates of Mary Immaculate from 1913 - 1956. The IRS was government-owned from 1956, but the Oblates of Mary Immaculate continued the IRS’s day-to-day administration until 1969. The Sisters of Charity of Providence, from the Missions of Holy Angels Province, assisted in the school’s administration from 1913 - 1969 in various capacities, such as teachers, supervisors, nurses, and domestic staff. The Sisters were withdrawn, as supervisors, from the IRS in June of 1965.

In 1962, an agreement between Canada, as represented by Indian Affairs (Minister) and INDIANESCOM (referred to as ‘Management’) for the Joussard IRS operation. INDIANESCOM was the incorporated body created in 1961 to be the only corporate entity to sign all the contracts concerning schools administered by the Oblate Fathers. Formerly, this body was known as the Oblate Fathers Indian and Eskimo Welfare Commission, which was created in 1936.

There is minimal information available regarding what grades were taught at the residential school, except as follows: in 1958, grade nine introduced, in 1960, grade eleven was introduced to the High School program. In 1961 high school grades 9 - 12 were offered.

Students from the following communities attended the school: Driftpile, Sucker Creek, Sawridge, Swan River, the Yukon Territory, Slave Lake, Little Red River, Lubicon Lake, Whitefish Lake, Hay Lakes, Fort Vermilion, Horse Lake, Sturgeon Lake, Chipewyan, Desmarais, Bigstone, Cree, Tallcree, Michel, the Edmonton Agency, Saddle Lake, Cree Chipewyan, Spence or Pelly Bay (NWT), Enoch, Calling Lake, Duncon, Atikameg, Athabasca, Alexis, Fort McKay, Beaver Lake, Alexander, and Janvier.

Student enrolment ranged from a low enrolment of 35 students in 1914 with an average high of 130 from 1955 - 1959.