Item R00005369 - Building Maintenance, Supplies, and Accounts

Alberni Indian Residential School (IRS) was located on Vancouver Island a few miles outside of Port Alberni, adjoining the Tseshaht Indian Reserve. The IRS operated from 1900 - 1973 (73 years). The IRS officially closed in August 1973.

Other names identifying the residential school were Alberni Girls Home and Indian Girls Home, Alberni from 1893 - 1896; information not available for 1897 - 1898; Presbyterian Boarding School, Alberni Boarding School, Alberni Industrial Home, Indian Residential School, Alberni, Alberni Indian Residential School, Alberni Residential School, Alberni School, and Alberni Indian Boarding School from 1899 - 1966; and Alberni Indian Student Residence and Alberni Student Residence from 1967 - 1973.

The Government of Canada was responsible for funding, which was managed and operated by the Presbyterian Church from 1900 - 1925. Management and operation of the IRS were transferred to the United Church, Board of Home Missions through the Women’s Missionary Society from 1926 - 1969. The federal government administered the IRS from April 1, 1969, to its close in August 1973. On April 1, 1911, an operational agreement was signed between His Majesty the King represented by the Superintendent General of Indian Affairs of Canada and the Reverend R.P. MacKay, D.D., Secretary of the Foreign Mission Committee of the Presbyterian Church in Canada for the management of the IRS. On June 22, 1962, an operational agreement was signed between Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada and the United Church of Canada for the management and operation of the IRS.

No information regarding which grades were taught at the IRS.

Students were ‘recruited’ from Ahousaht, Aiyansh, Arrandale, Beecher Bay, Bella Bella, Bella Coola, Boston Bar, Campbell River, Canyon City, Cape Mudge, Capilano, Chemainus, Clayquot, Cowichan, Gilford Island, Gitlakdamix, Glenn Vowell, Greenville, Gwinaha, Hagwilget, Hartley Bay, Hazelton, Helvikum, Hesquiaht, Kemano, Kilpaulus, Kilsemaht (Keltsomaht), Kincolith, Kingcombe, Kispiox, Kitasoo, Kitimat (Kitimaat), Kitkatla (Kitkatlah), Kitlakdamix, Kitlope, Kitsegukla, Kitselas, Kitsumkalum, Kitwancool, Kitwanga, Klemtu, Koksilah, Kwawkeweth, Kyoquot, Lakalsap, Lake Cowichan, Malahat, Mammalillikula, Masset, Metlakatla, Moricetown, Musqueam, Nanaimo, Nanoose, Neskainlith, Nimpkish, Nishga, Nitinat, Nootka, Ohiat (Ohiaht) (Ohiet), Opetchesaht, Opitsaht, Oweekano, Pachena (Pachenaht), Pauchauchin (Pauquachin), Penelakut, Port Essington, Port Renfrew, Port Simpson, Quamichan, Quawshelsh, Saanich, Saanichton, Sarita, Shaousaht, Sheshaht, Skeena Crossing, Skeena River, Skidegate, Skulkayn, Skuppah, Sliammon, Somenos, Songhees, Soowahlie, Stony Creek, Sweetgrass, Sumas, Tanakteuk, Terrace, Tsawataineuk, Toquaht, Tsawataineuk, Tsawout, Tsyecum, Turner Island, Tzeachton, Uchucklasaht, Ucluelet, Weiweikum Student enrolment at the IRS are available for selected years.

It appears that high school students were permitted in the Alberni Student Residence, but as early as 1933 attended high school classes in provincial schools in Port Alberni.

Upon the destruction of the IRS in 1937 by fire, the children in attendance were dispersed to various locations. Correctly, of the 112 children in attendance at the time of the fire, 19 returned to the Cowichan Agency, eight were placed in the Ahousaht School, 17 in the Ucluelet Day School, 37 were sent home “at various points,” and 31 remained in Alberni.