Assiniboia Residential School (1958–1973)

Assiniboia Residential School (1958–1973) was commemorated with a bronze plaque as part of the Residential School System National Historic Event in 2025.

Commemorative plaque: will be installed at the Assiniboia Residential School Commemorative Monument & Gathering Place, 621 Academy Road, Winnipeg, ManitobaFootnote 1

Assiniboia Residential School (1958–1973)

More than 1,025 children from roughly 85 First Nations were forced to attend and live at this federal institution run primarily by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and the Grey Nuns. They endured isolation at Assiniboia, which was first a residential high school and then a hostel after 1967. It was part of a failed national attempt to assimilate children and destroy their identity and cultures, impacting generations. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission described this policy as cultural genocide. Together, the children found the strength to resist. Survivors and their families are reclaiming their identities, cultures, languages, communities, and relationships with the land, while seeking justice and fostering awareness and remembrance.

ASSINIBOIA DENE XARÉ KUĘ HOɁĮɁĄ (1958 hots’į–1973 hots’ęn)

K’asjenę 1,025 sekuı ɂeją 85 Denededłı̨ne haralɂą hots’ı̨ narałtsı̨ nı̨ ɂeją ɂerıhtł’ıs kuę naraı̨de chu ɂeją naı̨dé nı̨ t’ą k’oldhé nane hoɂá hobası Dene Xaré betł’esı Oblates Mary Immaculate ɂerıhtł’ıs kuę naı̨dé nı̨. Ɂeyer t’a naı̨dé tthenę naraı̨dé nı̨, t’atthé honı̨dher hu ɂerıhtł’ıs kuę dene godhé nadé ha holı̨ nı̨ 1967 tł’ąghe hu dene naradé ha hoɂą nı̨. Ku t’axa nųt’ą nı̨ sekuı bets’ı̨ɂąne ch’ası nı̨lyé hu tthot’ı̨ne k’esı daghena ha nałtsı̨ nı̨, bech’alanı̨ye chu t’ą dąlı̨ k’odorelya hıle hajá, dene łą ɂeyı t’a dadatheɂá dųhų. T’ą ɂeją dene nadayaı̨łtı Ɂełtth’ı chu Horegoth Nųt’a ha dene ɂedırı ghą dene hesdogheghą ha nųt’ą dadı nı̨. T’ą sekuı ɂeyer naraı̨dé ɂeła nı̨déł hu ɂeją ch’ası hok’ı̨deł nı̨. T’ą hadaghı̨na dųhų ɂedeghą ɂası nanaltsı hıja, bech’alanı̨ye, beyatıé chu t’ok’e naradé chu nı̨h k’e ɂası k’enaradé nadłı̨, ɂełtth’ı bel sehenųt’a tth’ı́ chu dene ɂedırı ghą henerénı̨ chu benahonı̨ ɂedırı t’anodher ghą.

ASSINIBOIA ANISHINAABE GIKINOO’AMAADIIWIGAMIG (1958–1973)

Awashime owe minik 1,025 abinoojiinyaggaaonjiiwaad 85 Ishkoniganikaang giikijininjiimindim abinoojiinyag gii-izhi-inaawag zhaaganaashiiwakiing wemitigoozhi gaa-dibendang Oblates of Mary Immaculate miinawaa Grey Nuns. Giimamaanjigo’aawag Assiniboia, mii owe nitam ishpigikendaasowigamig naagaj idash gii-inaabadad nibewigamig 1967. Gii-kakwe-aango’aawag zhianishinaabewiwaad gaawiin idash gii-izhisesinoon gakina gegoo gii-kakwe-odaapina’amaawag ezhianishinaabewiwaad. Mii Truth and Reconciliation Commission gii-kakwe-angwanigaadeni ezhianishinaabewitwaawaad. Gakina abinoojiinyag giiinendamoog gaawiin owe daayizhesinoon. Gaagii-zhaabwiiwaad gaye oniigi’igoomaag noongom idash ani-mookinaagwad anishinaabe, inaadiziwin, izhitwaawinan, weweni odabiitaanaawaa gidakiiminaan, ganawaabamaawag gaa-giimaazhijigewaad dakoniwewininiwag wiijitwaawag miinawaa weweni ji-gikendaagwak gaa-gii-izhimaanikamigak.

ASSINIBOIA SIC’ECA WAYAWATIPI (1958–1973)

Sic’ec’a, Keya som num zaptan, Ateyapi tipi s’ic’ec’a owas wayatipi tanka hec’iya ewic’ahenakapi. De wayawatipi, S’ina Sapa opteya hed ewic’ahenakapi. Is’nana unpi. Assiniboia Otokayeg he’han, wayatipi hec’e tka. Hehan, wayawatipi c’istina 1967 he wayawatipi kin tipi c’istina. Hec’e taku wos’ic’aye tka, ehe s’ic’ec’api kin hena teh’iya wic’akuhapi, tka okihipi s’ni. Wowic’ake k’a okic’iyu was’tepi, he wowapi ic’g’api kin hena awac’inpi, itonpi s’ni. Taku s’ic’a ehe awac’inpi. S’ic’ec’api kin toked tanyan ic’agapi hena kiksuyapi. Hena was’akapi, s’ic’ec’api k’a tiwahe wana dehan wic’oh’an. Oyate makoc’e akan was’te ec’eda, wowic’ake, kiksuyapi. Wowic’ake, k’a makoc’e, kic’i iyoh’piya ye, teh’indapi.

ASSINIBOIA KAEESHITANIWAK KISKI NOAHMATOWIKAMIK (1958-1973)

Ahwasetay 1,025 ahwashishak wayash 85 nistam ohskanaysewina kitashowa takanowanoak chitotaychik nestah chiwikichik ahnta kichokimawi kaee shetashekaniwak kaki panitwachik Minotwaymini Omaykataykwanawima nestah Kawapisaeesechik Ahyami eeskaywak. Kikakwa takaynimowak aykipiskitaski nichik ahnta Assiniboia, kakinistam kakieeshitaniwak kaeespak kiskinoah matowikamik nesta kaki ahti kapayshi wikamikowak kiskwa 1967. Aykoma Kakiyashichipanik kakikochi taniwak misiwayskamik chiki kwaski petichik ahwasheshak nestah chinisha wanachitaniwaninik ahwaynikanowi chik nesta ohtaskanaysewinowao, ayo htamiskakochik nekan kaypichitachik. Ahnima Tapwaywin nestah Kiwaypichi kaywin Kamamowapichik kitwaywak ohmano nosokachikaywin ayki yapatak chinipataniwak eetaskanaysewin. Mamowi, ohko ahwashesak kimiska moak maskowisewinino chiki mashi tachik. Kakishaposkakik nesta ohpayyakotay wiso winowowa wikiwayohtinamoak ah waynikanowichik, ohtaskanisewini wow, ohtishekishowaywinowow, mamowi tashekaywina, nesta wichaywitowina ahskik eetaykay, maykwach aynatawa patakik kayki eesheminopanitakchik nesta chiki misewaypanitwachik kiskaytamo winino nesta kiskisowaywinino.

ASSINIBOIA KABESHIIWI IISHKONOKAMIK (1958-1973)

Awashime 1,025 awashishag iimaa 85 Nishtam Anishininiiwi Okomaawinan kii-iishoonaakanowak ji-iishkonowaach egwa jiishi kabeshiwaach iimaa Okomaawinaag kikinohamaakewikamikog kaakiibimbandwawaach iikweniwak odanohkiig iimaa Mary egwa ayamihewininiiwi iikwewak. Kiidashi shikadendamowak iimaa Assiniboia, nishtam ekii kabeshiiwi iishkonokamikowahkiban kiiyaniishi mohji kabeshiiwikamikowanopan ahpin 1967 kayahkiiwakiban. Kiiyaaniinowak misiwe biko ahkiig kaakiishi kakwe maamawinaawaach awashishan egwa jinishiwanaajitowaach awanenoonich egwa odishi bimadisoniwaaniin, kaa-iishi bimi bakamishkaakemakak iiwe mishiinoyahki owedi ahpin niikaaniig. Debwewin egwa Maamiinonikewin Owiidamaakeg okiiwiidaanaawaa oweni onakonikerwinini kaakiidoojikaadenik ekii iishinaakwak iiwe ekiikakwe chaakinihsaakanowaach. Maamao, awashishag okiimihkaanaawaa mashkawisiiwinini kewiji mayaashkamowaach iiweni. Obimaajihoog egwa odibenjikewiniwaan okiiwe odaapinaanaawaa awanenowaach, odishibimaadisoniwaan, odishikiishiwewiniwaan, odashiikewiniwaan, egwa kaa-iishi wawiijiwidamowaach ahkiini, mekwaach ekakwe debinamowaach kwayahkwaakonikewinini egwa ebimi bamihtowaach kikendamaawinan egwa kanookewinan.

Assiniboia Residential School (1958–1973)

The Assiniboia Residential School was a federally funded institution that operated in Winnipeg, Manitoba, from 1958 to 1973. It is located on Treaty No. 1 territory, the traditional lands of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Anisininewuk, Dene, and Dakota, and the homeland of the Red River Métis. The former Assiniboia Residential School was part of the broader Indian Residential School System, a network of institutions established by the federal government beginning in the 1880s. These schools were largely administered by religious organizations to assimilate Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian society, continuing through the 20th century. According to estimates, at least 150,000 First Nations, Inuit and Métis children attended the schools. The system was imposed on Indigenous Peoples in an attempt to destroy their rich cultures and identities and suppress their histories. In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission described the policy as cultural genocide.

In July 2024, on behalf of the Survivors and their descendants, the Executive Director of the Assiniboia Residential School Legacy Group requested that the history of the school be commemorated as part of the Residential School System National Historic Event, which was designated in 2019. The commemorative plaque text presented to the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada was co-developed by the Assiniboia Residential School Legacy Group and Parks Canada.

Assiniboia Residential School was established in 1958 when the Oblates of Mary Immaculate repurposed an existing building for use as a high school. Originally constructed in 1915 as a children’s home, the building was later used as a veterans’ hospital before being converted into a residential school. An Oblate principal administered the school, supported by the Grey Nuns of Montréal, who carried out its daily supervision. Although the building had undergone renovations, government inspections in the 1960s found the facility to be overcrowded and inadequate, raising serious concerns about fire safety, sanitation, and ventilation.

Assiniboia was the first urban residential high school in Manitoba for Indigenous youth. Over its 15 years of operation, more than 1,025 students from roughly 85 communities across Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Quebec attended the school. At many First Nations communities, nearby residential schools only offered instruction for lower grade levels, and students were sent to institutions like Assiniboia to pursue higher grade levels. In 1960, Assiniboia expanded to offer the full range of high school grades, and by 1967, it became a hostel for Indigenous students attending public schools in Winnipeg. In 1970, the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Saint-Hyacinthe replaced the Grey Nuns.

“I am truly honoured and grateful to participate in today’s unveiling. Our relatives and ancestors have a fire spirit within them. This fire, provided, the strength, resilience and love to endure the pain and injustices while they were uprooted and forced to attend residential schools. It is because of their bravery and strength, we are still here. Today, we honour all our relatives who attended Assiniboia Residential School from 1958 to1973, alongside Parks Canada. These plaques symbolize our truth with the hope that history will not repeat itself.”

While some Survivors recalled Assiniboia as a relatively safe and more supportive environment compared to other residential schools—highlighting better food, recreational opportunities, and a focus on student health—others shared painful memories of racism, abuse, and trauma. These experiences reflect the complex legacy of the school.

Assiniboia closed in 1973, and today the stories of Survivors contribute to the ongoing process of truth, reconciliation, and remembrance in Canada. To honour Survivors, in 2022 the Assiniboia Residential School Legacy Group constructed a commemorative monument and gathering place with interpretive panels located near the former school building.

This press backgrounder was prepared at the time of the plaque unveiling in 2025.

Related links

• National historic designations
• National historic persons
• National historic sites designations
• National historic events
• Submit a nomination
• The Residential School System National Historic Event
• This Week in History