A Dark Chapter

Memories of a
sad history for native
people in red brick

~ carliewired

Imagine what it would be like to have your children taken from you and to have them placed in care in an institution like this one. 

The Kamloops Indian Residential School opened in 1890 as part of the Canadian residential school system. The national government of the day had a policy to assimilate indigenous people. There were about 130 such schools across Canada. 

Children were not allowed to speak their native language or practice their native culture. The consequences of this disastrous practice are still being felt in the lives of First Nations peoples today. 

Since its closure as a school in 1977, this building has been repurposed to serve the First Nations people in other ways - a daycare, administrative space and community space. 

The circular construction in the foreground is the Kamloops Pow Wow Arbor, the location for the annual Pow Wow. Held in August for more than 40 years, this open air building makes for a spectacular setting. It is an event open to the public and celebrates native culture in dance, drumming and food, gathering contestants from all over North America.