Though it's difficult to say exactly how many residential schools operated over their more than 100-year history, 139 have been officially identified. Only the building that housed the residential school's classrooms still stands on the lot between Academy Road and Wellington Crescent in the city's River Heights neighbourhood. A 2017 photo of the former residential school in Birtle, Man., from the Great Plains Publications book Abandoned Manitoba: From Residential Schools to Bank Vaults to Grain Elevators, by historian Gordon Goldsborough. In January, the Birdtail Sioux Dakota Nation — where many families have personal connections to the Birtle Residential School — announced it would create a healing garden to honour survivors of the residential school system. Support is available for anyone affected by their experience at residential schools, and those who are triggered by the latest reports.

Source: CBC News June 06, 2021 10:52 UTC