Learn More About Residential Schools & Ongoing Impacts of Colonialism

We believe in the power of education to create change and have compiled a list of resources that explore the history of residential schools in Canada, as well as other Canadian policies and programs that have fundamentally harmed Indigenous children, families, and communities. It is our hope that these resources will help you to have important conversations about missing Indigenous children, the families left behind, and the survivors of residential schools.

Whether you like to learn by reading a book, watching a film, or listening to a podcast, we invite you to explore these resources and expand your understanding of our histories, and the ongoing impacts of these policies and programs.

Resources

Read

Five Little Indians by Michelle Good

Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese

21 Things You May Not Know About The Indian Act by Bob Joseph

Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga

Call Me Indian by Fred Sasakamoose

Up Ghost River by Edmund Metatawabin

Genocidal Love: A Life After Residential School by Bevann Fox

Kiss of the Fur Queen by Tomson Highway

The Education of Augie Merasty by Joseph Auguste Merasty

This Place by Kateri Akiwenzie-damm, Sonny Assu, Brandon Mitchell

When We Were Alone by David A. Robertson

Speaking Our Truth: A Journey of Reconciliation by Monique Gray Smith

Watch

Where The Spirit Lives (CBC)

Four Faces of the Moon (CBC)

Cold Journey (NFB)

The Messenger (NFB)

Secret Path

Stolen Children (The National)

We Were Children (NFB)

Sisters and Brothers (NFB)

nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up (NFB)

Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance (NFB)

Finding Dawn (NFB)

Indian Horse (Elevation Pictures)

Anne with an E - Season 3, Episode 8 (Netflix)

The Pass System (Tamarack Productions)

Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report: Read the TRC Report

Listen

This Place (CBC - 10 episodes)

Residential Schools Series Episode 1: First Nations Experiences (Canadian Encyclopedia)

Residential Schools Series – Episode 2: Metis Experiences (Canadian Encyclopedia)

Residential School Series – Episode 3: Inuit Experiences (Canadian Encyclopedia)

The Orange Shirt Episode (Still Here Still Healing – Sept. 26, 2019)

School Survivors left out of federal settlement (APTN In Focus – Nov. 13, 2019)

Truth? Or Reconciliation? (APTN Investigates – July 30, 2020)

Murray Sinclair on the deaths of children in residential schools (CBC The Current – June 2, 2021)

Back Story: Connie Walker and the first-hand legacy of residential schools (CBC)

Missing & Murdered: Finding Cleo (CBC)

If you or someone you know needs immediate support, here are some resources:

National Indian Residential School Crisis Line, 1-866-925-4419

The Hope for Wellness Help Line at 1-855-242-3310 (phone services available in Cree, Ojibway, Inuktitut, French, and English). The Hope for Wellness Help Line also offers online support services at hopeforwellness.ca

Kids Help Phone, 1-800-668-6868