The Regina Industrial School: Historical Overview And Chronological Narrative By Douglas Stewart

I attended the book launch for The Regina Industrial School (1891-1910): Historical Overview and Chronological Narrative by Douglas Stewart, Professor Emeritus and film screening of RIIS from Amnesia by Janine Windolph and Trudy Stewart on the evening of October 25, 2017. My first impression when I walked into the room was that there were many white faces in the crowd consisting and students and older adults as well as a few Indigenous people. The evening consisted of exploring the effects residential schools had on students, the function of residential schools, as well as the process of uncovering truth.

The evening started with an introduction by James Daschuk to welcome and invite forward two members of All Nations Hope, Wesley and Audrey

Doug spent two and a half years going through archival data and material. Some of these materials included annual reports of Indian Affairs, school principals, departmental (school inspections), Indian Agents, and Indian Affairs officials. There is a rather glowing account of the school despite what we know to be true. Deaths of students were seldom talked about, there were no names of students just student numbers. I was surprised to hear that there was a documented inspection by Alex McGimmon who was school inspector and he reported the conditions of the school in his 1894 visit. It was the second ever inspection done at the school. There was a fairly large staff of about 14 members. He noted how many beds in the dormitories, the color of the ceilings and walls, the cleanness and quality of ventilation. He recorded mostly aesthetic traits of the school rather than the issues occurring in the school. Outside, he noticed a small graveyard which was located on the Northside of the school enclosed by a white picket fence built by the boys in carpentry and only noted two graves. He also said that the students appeared happy and content with good English. I was surprised to hear this documented information of the cemetery. It makes me wonder how many people knew about the cemetery and just chose to ignore it or forget about it. In subsequent years, the condition of the school deteriorated. Dr. Peter Bryce reported in later visits that the ventilation was poor and students were not getting enough physical exercise and outdoor activities. As a becoming Physical Educator, I know the importance of physical activity and outdoor education. I can see why the death rates at the school were so high due to the poor conditions. By 1898, the death rate at the school was 21%. The deaths were related to tuberculosis and unhealthy conditions in the dormitories. Some of the children were sent home when they were