Former Muscowequan Indian Residential School National Historic Site

The Residential School System is a topic that may cause trauma invoked by memories of past abuse. The Government of Canada recognizes the need for safety measures to minimize the risk associated with triggering. A National Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for former residential school students. You can access information on the website or access emotional and crisis referral services by calling the 24-Hour National Crisis Line: 1-866-925-4419.

Large Building
The Former Muscowequan Indian Residential School, located on Muskowekwan First Nation, Saskatchewan, 2020.
© Parks Canada / Allison Sarkar

The Former Muscowequan Indian Residential School, Lestock, Saskatchewan was designated a national historic site in 2021.

Commemorative plaque: not installedFootnote 1

Nominated by the Muskowekwan First Nation

The Former Muscowequan Indian Residential School is located on the reserve lands of Muskowekwan First Nation in Treaty 4 Territory (southeastern Saskatchewan). This site was nominated for designation by Muskowekwan First Nation. Parks Canada and Muskowekwan First Nation worked collaboratively to identify the historic values of this former residential school, and co-developed the report on the history of the school and the experiences of students for the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

The site and property

The large, three-storey former school building was built in 1930-31 to replace residential school buildings dating to the late-19th century, and remained open until 1997. It was once part of a large school property that included a working farm, outbuildings, playgrounds, and skating rinks. An unmarked graveyard was later discovered on the grounds. It is the only standing residential school in Saskatchewan, and one of the few remaining residential school buildings in Canada.

The Residential School System

Muscowequan Indian Residential School functioned within the system of residential schools in Canada that was imposed on Indigenous Peoples by the federal government and certain churches and religious organizations, who worked together in a deliberate effort to assimilate Indigenous children and convert them to Christianity by separating them from their families, cultures, languages, and traditions. Until 1969, Muscowequan Indian Residential School was operated by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, a Roman Catholic missionary congregation, and staffed by the Sisters of Charity of Montreal (Grey Nuns) and the Missionary Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart and of Mary Immaculate. In the 1980s, it came under the administrative control of a local First Nations organization and was among the last residential schools to close in Canada.

The mistreatment of students

For over a century, children from many First Nations and other Indigenous communities in Treaty 4 Territory, across Saskatchewan, and elsewhere in Canada attended this residential school. While there, they faced severe discipline, punishment and abuse, harsh labour, inadequate nutrition, poor living conditions, separation from siblings and cousins attending the school, the attempted suppression of their language and cultures, and isolation from their families and home communities. Many children ran away, some to be later returned by force. Some children died while attending the school. In the face of threats by government officials of fines or imprisonment, Indigenous families engaged in acts of resistance such as refusing to send their children to school, withdrawing them without permission, and writing letters to government officials protesting the poor treatment of their children. The far-reaching effects of the residential school experience continue to have significant impacts on former students, their families, and communities today.

A place of cultural reclamation

The school building has been saved from demolition by Muscowequan IRS survivors and community members who see it as an important witness to the history of residential schools, and wish to repurpose the site into a place of commemoration, healing, cultural learning, and as a site of memory for all Canadians.

Backgrounder last update: 2021-03-17.

The National Program of Historical Commemoration relies on the participation of Canadians in the identification of places, events and persons of national historic significance. Any member of the public can nominate a topic for consideration by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

Get information on how to participate in this process

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