First Nations Experiences

Gordon’s Indian Residential School in Punnichy, Saskatchewan shut its doors in 1996. It was the last federally run residential school in Canada.

More than two decades later, the legacy of what went on behind those doors continues to be felt by Survivors, their families, and communities. In this episode, University of Manitoba’s Dr. Niigaanwewidam Sinclair describes the effects of residential schools on First Nations peoples. Survivors Riley Burns and Ed Bitternose recount their personal experiences at Gordon’s. Hosted by Shaneen Robinson-Desjarlais, this is “Residential Schools: First Nations Experiences.”

Show Notes

Special thanks to Survivors Riley Burns and Ed Bitternose. Survivor testimony in this episode was provided by the Legacy of Hope Foundation. Additional resources include University of Regina’s Shattering Silence and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report, Honouring the Truth, Reconciling for the Future.

Thanks to our consultants: David Perley, a Wolastoqi scholar from Tobique First Nation and the Director of the Mi’kmaq-Wolastoqey Centre and Brian Maracle (Owennatekha), an author, journalist, and teacher, and a member of the Mohawk First Nation.

Illustrations by Halie Finney.

Additional reading:

• Truth and Reconciliation Commission Reports
• Final Report: National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
• Report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples 

What is Residential Schools?

“Residential Schools” is a three-part podcast series created by Historica Canada and hosted by Shaneen Robinson-Desjarlais. It aims to commemorate the history and legacy of residential schools, and honour the stories of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Survivors, their families, and communities.

The Residential Schools podcast series is part of a larger awareness campaign created by Historica Canada and funded by the Government of Canada. Along with the podcast series, Historica Canada also offers a video series, an education guide, and several new entries on The Canadian Encyclopedia about the history and legacy of residential schools.

Illustrations by Halie Finney.