To support the work of reconciliation and healing within Indigenous communities, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has released a report that provides a summary of educational facilities, including residential schools, day schools and residences, in the Northwest Territories (NWT) from 1862 to 2021.

Sorting information by community, the Report on the History of NWT Educational Facilities is designed to support communities and researchers reviewing educational facilities. It notes whether the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation lists any deceased students in the identified facilities. It also helps to identify which organizations were responsible for those facilities through time.

The report was assembled using information available in the NWT Archives. Sources include archival records, government records, news stories, historical accounts from various churches, academic theses, and monographs on community and education history.

Quotes

“Efforts to support Indigenous residents and communities impacted by the legacy of residential schools is an important step that we must take on the path to reconciliation. By working with Indigenous leadership as part of the Council of Leaders we are committed to providing support however we can. There is a great deal of work that remains to address reconciliation in the Northwest Territories and Canada, and we continue to move forward. And while it will be long, and at times difficult, we are committed every step of the way.

-Caroline Cochrane, Premier of the Northwest Territories

“The NWT had a far higher percentage of Indigenous people attend residential schools than anywhere else in Canada. I know that for many people in the territory, this is not history – it is lived experience. To help support the work of reconciliation and healing, the GNWT  has examined  its own files to identify any information it has that can help communities study and document their own residential school history. This report is a resource for communities wishing to undertake residential school research.”

– R.J. Simpson, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment

Quick facts

• The Report on the History of NWT Educational Facilities does not contain any personal or student information, any oral histories or anecdotes, but focuses on administrative information found in available resources about school operations.

• The GNWT recommends that communities or individuals interested in residential school research contact the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
• The GNWT provided the report to Indigenous Governments through the Council of Leaders prior to publicly releasing it.
• Former residential school students can call 1-866-925-4419 for emotional crisis referral services and information on other health supports from the Government of Canada.
• Indigenous peoples across Canada can also go to The Hope for Wellness Help Line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for counselling and crisis intervention. Call the toll-free Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 or connect to the online chat.
• In the NWT, the NWT Help Line offers free, confidential support. To talk to a trained responder, call the NWT Helpline at 1-800-661-0844.

Related links

• Report on the History of NWT Educational Facilities
• National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation webpage
• NWT Archives
• Supporting research on unmarked burials in the NWT

For media requests, please contact:

Briony Grabke

Manager, Public Affairs and Communications

Department of Education, Culture and Employment

Government of the Northwest Territories

briony_grabke@gov.nt.ca

867-767-9352 Ext. 71073