Item R00011792 - Establishment, Building Maintenance, Supplies, and Accounts

Beauval Indian Residential School (IRS) was located in Treaty 6 territory at various locations – at Petequakey’s Reserve, Carlton Agency; outside Treaty Limits but in Carlton Agency; and outside the treaty and in McKenzie River District/Carlton Agency. The school, after moving from Ile-à-la-Crosse, was located south of the La Plonge Indian Reserve No. 192 and at the junction of La Plonge and Beaver Rivers. The IRS operated from 1897 - 1995 (98 years) under Roman Catholic administration.

Other names identifying the residential school were Isle (Ile) à la Crosse School/Boarding School; Lac la Plonge Indian Boarding/Mission School; Beauval Indian Residential School/Boarding School; La Plonge High School; Beauval Student Residence; Beauval Indian Residential High School; and Beauval Indian Education Centre (no dates identified).

The Government of Canada was responsible for funding the school. It was managed and operated on behalf of the government by the Roman Catholic Mission Oblate Fathers with assistance from the Grey Nuns of Montreal and the Sisters of St. Joseph until 1969. The federal government took over managerial and operational control of the IRS in 1969 but contracted the religious bodies to provide administrative assistance until 1973 when the IRS was transferred to the Meadow Lake Chiefs.

An Advisory Board of Meadow Lakes Chiefs was in place as early as August 1973. It was made up of members from the English River, Peter Pond, La Loche, Meadow Lake, Waterhen and Moosomin bands, the Acting District Superintendent of Education, and the Administrator.

As of 1975, the Board included members of Peter Pond, English River, Waterhen, Turnor Lake, Canoe Lake, Flying Dust, Joseph Bighead, and Portage La Loche bands and was responsible for acting “as a board for the Student Residence as well as La Plonge High School.”

La Plonge High School and Beauval Student Residence re-amalgamated into one organizational unit under the direction of a Board comprised of Chiefs of the Bands in the Meadow Lake District in 1979.

Meadow Lakes Tribal Council assumed control of what was then known as the “Beauval Indian Education Centre” effective 1 Jun 1985.

On 19 Apr 1911, an Agreement between the Crown and Vicar Apostolic of the Diocese of Keewatin for management of the Boarding School at Lac La Plange.

On 25 Sept 1962, an Operational Agreement for the operation of Beauval Indian residential school.

On 25 Jul 1967, and 7 Jul 1969, Memoranda of Agreements between the government and the
province.

On 21 Jul 1969, a Service Contract between the government and the Indian-Eskimo Council for advisory and liaison duties connected with Indian Student Residences.
During 1984, an Agreement between the Meadow Lake District Indian Band Governments and the government.

Minimal information available regarding which grades were available at the IRS as per the following;

• documents show that grade 9 was to be taught at the IRS for village and residence pupils in
  1966-67 and according to a “Gymnasium Criteria Question” dated 23 Jun 1966, “Metis children
  from the village” would attend Beauval “to fill up the six other classrooms and some of ours will
  attend school in the village, trying to have the same grade in one classroom.”
• a Joint School Agreement between Indian Affairs and the Northern School Board of the Province of Saskatchewan was in effect from Jul 1968-1974, the terms of which had grades 7 & 8 discontinued at the IRS.

No information is available to indicate that students were ‘recruited’ from other reserves or agencies.

No information is available regarding student enrolment statistics at the IRS.