Residential Schools
The Indian Residential School system entered the lives of Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) members as early as 1847 when children were forcibly removed from their home communities to attend residential schools until the late 1960’s. Over 3000 citizens of the NAN territory have attended over 16 residential schools funded by the federal government and operated by various church organizations.
What We Are Doing
In response to Resolution 21/10: Strategic Response to the Identification of Unmarked Graves and the Recovery of Missing Nishnawbe Aski Nation Children from Indian Residential Schools, our department is guided by a survivor-led advisory council to develop a restorative healing strategy for NAN territory. We oversee the implementation of the TRC Calls to Action within NAN, ensuring survivor and community priorities are at the core of our work.
Our technical team addresses survivor and community-identified needs through activities such as policy development, research, engagement coordination, and aligning ongoing and emerging initiatives with NAN’s broader strategy and governance framework.
Residential Schools
We recognize that members of NAN communities were sent across North America to many different schools outside of the territory. NAN has 7 former sites within in its territory:
Chapleau or St. John’s IRS – Chapleau Cree First Nation
St. Anne’s IRS – Fort Albany First Nation
Pelican Lake IRS – Lac Seul First Nation
Cristal Lake IRS – Mishkeegogamang First Nation
Bishop Horden Hall IRS – Moose Cree First Nation
Stirland Lake IRS or Wahbon Bay Academy – North Caribou First Nation
Poplar Hill IRS – Poplar Hill First Nation
News & Updates
Overview,
Timeline & Map
To see our community overviews, timelines and school map, please click the button below.
