Item R00005147 - Death of Pupils

Sechelt Indian Residential School (IRS) was located on Sechelt Indian Reserve No. 2, a quarter-mile from the commercial center of Sechelt and about 35 miles northwest of Vancouver. The IRS operated from 1904 - 1975 (71 years) and closed on June 30, 1975.

Other names identifying the residential school include Sechelt Boarding School and Sechelt Indian Boarding School from 1908 - 1923; Sechelt Industrial School from 1922 - 1924; Sechelt Indian School and Indian Residential School, Sechelt from 1923 - 1967; Sechelt Indian Residential School and Sechelt Residential School from 1923 - 1975; and Sechelt Indian Student Residence and Sechelt Student Residence from 1968 - 1975.

The Government of Canada was responsible for funding the school, which was managed and operated by The Sisters of Instruction of the Child Jesus from 1904 - 1924. From 1924 - 1969, the IRS was managed and operated by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. The federal government managed and operated the IRS from April 1, 1969, until June 30, 1975. On April 1, 1911, an agreement was signed between His Majesty, the King, represented by the Superintendent General of Indian Affairs of Canada and the Most Reverend Neil McNeil, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Vancouver to manage the Sechelt Boarding School. On April 1, 1916, an agreement was signed between His Majesty, the King, represented by the Superintendent General of Indian Affairs of Canada and the Most Reverend Timothy Casey, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Vancouver to manage the Sechelt Boarding School.
On September 25, 1962, an agreement was signed between Her Majesty the Queen in the right of Canada and INDIANESCOM (a company controlled by the Oblate Order). On September 13, 1967, a Memorandum of Agreement was made between Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada and the Board of Trustees, School District No. 46, Sechelt, to purchase 170 pupil spaces
in various schools operated by the Board. On October 24, 1968, a Memorandum of Agreement was made between Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada and the Board of Trustees, School District No. 46, Sechelt, for the provision of 80 additional spaces in schools operated by the Board.

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

Students from the following bands attended the IRS: Port Alberni, Squamish, Sechelt, Sliammon, Homalco, Tsawassen, Klahoose, Nanaimo, Musqueam, Katsie, Hesquith, Coquitlam, Seabird Island, Katz, Chehalis, Cheam, Spuzzum, Alert Bay, Chilliwack, Skway, Kwawkwelth, Burrard, Semiahmoo, O'Hawel, Kitamat, Pemberton, Bella Coola, Scowlitz, Anderson Lake, Comox, Skwah, Union Bar, Cowichan, Mount Currie, Oweekano, Skeah, High Bar, Samaliquam, Coldwater, Lakahahem, Tanakteuk, Adams Lake, Fountain, Cowessess, Tsawout, Nimkish, Shawahlook, Chemanius, Tsaw, Port Douglas, Ashcroft.

Statistics for student enrolment from the early years of operation are missing except 1905, 1919, and 1922 then statistics are annual from 1935 except 1937 and 1940.