Item R00001979 - Quarterly Return

Cariboo (Williams Lake) Indian Residential School (IRS) was located southwest of Williams Lake on highway #97 approximately halfway between Quesnel and Kamloops in the BC interior. The IRS operated from 1891 - 1981 (90 years) and closed on June 30, 1981.

Other names identifying the residential school include Williams Lake Industrial School and St. Joseph’s Industrial School from 1891 - 1920; Cariboo Industrial School and Cariboo Indian Industrial School from 1920 - 1927; Cariboo Residential School and Cariboo Indian Residential School from 1923 - 1981; St. Joseph’s Mission School (1929 - 1981), St. Joseph’s Indian Residential School (1932 and 1935), and St. Joseph’s Residential School (1963 and 1969); Cariboo Student Residence and Cariboo Indian Student Residence from 1967 - 1981. The school was also frequently referred to as the Indian School at 150 Mile House because of its location.

The Government of Canada was responsible for funding the school, which was managed and operated by the Roman Catholic Church from July 1891 - March 31, 1969. From April 1, 1969 - June 1981, the federal government managed and operated the IRS. In 1962, an agreement was signed between Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada represented by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration and Indianescom (Oblate Indian and Eskimo Commission) for the management and operation of the Cariboo IRS.

No information regarding which grades were taught at the IRS exists.

Students were from the following bands: Alexandria, Alexis Creek, Alkali Lake, Anaham, Anderson Lake, Ashcroft, Bonaparte, Bridge River, Canim Lake, Canoe Creek, Clinton, Coldwater, Cowichan, Dog Creek, Euchinico, Fountain, High Bar, Kamloops, Kluskus Lake (Kluxkux Lake), Kuklinko, Lake Babine, Lillooet, Little Shuswap, Moricetown, Mount Currie, Natzoo, Nazko, Nemiah Valley, North Thompson, Pavillion, Pemberton, Quesnel, Redstone, Riske Creek, Seton Lake, Skwah, Soda Creek, Squamish, Stone (Stoney), Taodistan, Toosey, Ulkatcho (Ulgatcho), and Williams Lake.

Coqualeetza Residential School was located at Coqualeetza in the interior of BC near Chilliwack. The IRS operated from 1889 - 1940 (51 years) and closed in 1940.

Other names identifying the residential school include Coqualeetza Boarding School, Coqualeetza Institute, Coqualeetza Home, Coqualeetza Industrial Institue, Indian Industrial Institute - Chilliwack, Chilliwack Home, Coqualeetza Institute, Coqualeetza Industrial School, Coqualeetza Indian Institute, and Coqualeetza Training Institute between 1889 - 1924. From 1924 - 1939, the following names identifying the IRS were Coqualeetza Residential School and Coqualeetza Indian Residential School.

The Government of Canada was responsible for funding the school, which was managed and operated by the Methodist Church then the United Church from 1889 - 1940. Additionally, the Women's Missionary Society of the Methodist Church and the Board of Home Missions of the United Church was involved. To date, we have not located any written agreements regarding the Coqualeetza IRS.

No information regarding which grades were taught at the IRS exists.

Students from the following bands attended the IRS: Aiyansh, Bella Bella, Bella Coola, Campbell River, Capilano, Chemainus, Clo'oose, Cowichan, Gitlakdamix, Haida, Hartley Bay, Hazelton, Kemano, Kilgard, Kincolith, Kitalope, Kitamaat, Kitkatla, Klemtu, Koksilah, Lakalsap, Lytton, Malahat, Massett, Musqueam, Nanaimo, Nanoose, Nitinaht, Port Essington, Port Renfrew, Port Simpson, Quamichan, Saanichton, Salishan, Salmon River, Skulkayn, Somenos, Soowahlia, Sumas, and Teheaston.