Convent of Holy Angels Indian Residential School around 1930
The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) has voted unanimously to erect a monument honouring Indigenous children who attended the Convent of Holy Angels Indian Residential School.
The Holy Angels school was founded in 1874 at Fort Chipewyan. The school moved to a new school building in 1881, which was enlarged in 1898, 1904, and 1907. A new school opened in 1944 and in the 1950s a day school operated out of the residential school. Many of the students at the school were Métis or non-Aboriginal. The school closed in 1974.
According to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, 89 children died at the school.
Elder Lorraine Albert said a monument will ensure the history of the school will never be forgotten.
“A lot of our people can’t talk about what happened in residential school. There’s nothing there that our future generations know what happen. I think it’s really, really important that we have a monument, a beautiful monument. Not like a monument that can bring peace, so that people never ever forget what happened there, but to honour those that are buried there,” she said.
The design and location of the school will be determined at a later date by RMWB along with Indigenous leaders and communities.
The national Indian Residential School Crisis Line is available to provide support for survivors and those affected. People can access support services by calling the 24-hour service at 1-866-925-4419.
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