La Tuque Indian Residential School  

By James Tang 
 
(TRIGGER WARNING: Mentions sensitive subjects not suitable for young readers)  

La Tuque Indian Residential School was a school that operated from 1963 - 1976 in La
Tuque, Quebec

History 

In 1958, Indian affairs decided to establish a residential school in the city center of La
Tuque. Approximately 9.7 acres of land was purchased from the Canadian International
Paper Company. The school’s proposed name at the time was Abitibi Indian Residential
School. Construction of the school began in 1962 and was finished in early 1963, in
September of that year, the school opened with the enrollment of 250 first nations
children.

Because the school was located in Quebec, French was originally going to be the
language taught, but was later changed to English because the children there were
either only English speakers or were only fluent in their mother languages. However by
the mid 70s the majority of the children were receiving education taught in French.
Following the closing of the school in 1978, most Native American children were taught
at new schools set up at their reserves. After the official closing, there weren’t any
interests by native groups in taking over the now abandoned school, which was left
derelict and vandalized. It wasn’t until February of 2006 that the school was finally torn
down, with the active participation of many former students at the school.
Students eating at the school cafeteria

Like many other residential schools in Canada, sexual, physical, and psychological
abuses were rampant at La Tuque Residential School. Many things have been done to
try and help heal those traumatic events that happened to the students, including a $2
billion compensation package announced in late 2005 by the government. However,
money alone cannot heal those deep wounds. The children at the school were
taken/abducted to the school without their will, separated from their families. The school
also hosted many joint social activities and inter sport competitions with the La Tuque
English Protestant School. As well, the Catholic Indian residential school nearby was an
arch rival in hockey and track and field competition with the school.

The School’s Hockey Team

Survivors of the school 

Dianne Bossum

She was six years old when she was taken from her parents in Masteuiash, in Quebec’s
Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region.

"I received spankings because I didn't speak English. There was nobody to come and
hug me. We didn't receive love at the residential schools." - Diane Bossum

Paul Dixon

Dixon was 12 years old when he enrolled in the school in 1963. He was taken away
from his parents under the guise that the children were just “going for a ride”

“I think we’re looking for some kind of closure,” Dixon said. “And by taking down this
building – it represented all of them and their ‘kill the Indian inside us’ policy – that’s
exactly what we’re getting.”

Paul Dixon was also a participant in demolishing the abandoned school building in 2006

“It felt good to swing that sledgehammer. I think I’ll put it on Ebay, and I won’t accept
anything less than a million bucks,” said Dixon, triumphantly.

Paul Dixon at the abandoned school