Assumption (Hay Lakes) Indian Residential School facts for kids
The Assumption Indian Residential School (also known as the Hay Lakes Residential School) was a school in northwestern Alberta, Canada. It was part of a larger system called the Canadian Indian Residential School System. The school was run by the Roman Catholic Church and was open from 1951 to 1974. It was located on the south side of the Hay Lakes reserve.
What Were Residential Schools?
Residential schools were a system of schools set up in Canada. They were created to educate Indigenous children. Many of these schools were run by churches. Children were often taken from their homes to live at these schools. The goal was to teach them new ways of life. This system had a big impact on Indigenous families and communities.
The Assumption School's Story
The Assumption Indian Residential School opened in 1951. It was one of many such schools across Canada. The school aimed to provide education and a place to live for Indigenous students. It was located in a rural area of Alberta. The Roman Catholic Church was in charge of running the school.
How the School Changed Over Time
Over the years, the role of the Assumption school changed. In 1962, a new day school opened in a nearby community called Habay. A day school is where students attend classes during the day and go home afterward. Because of this new day school, the Assumption school started to focus more on providing a place for students to live. It became more of a boarding house.
By 1968, the Assumption school itself became a day school. However, it still offered boarding services. This meant students who lived far away could still stay there. In 1969, the Canadian government took over running the boarding part of the school. Finally, in 1974, the residence closed its doors for good.
