Old Sun Chapel

This computer reconstruction approximates how the chapel at Old Sun would have appeared at Old Sun Indian Residential School. It was created using historic photos as well as descriptions provided by former students.

“We instill within them a pronounced distaste of the Indian way of life so that they will be humiliated when reminded of their origin. When they graduate from our institutions, the children have lost everything except their Native blood”. – Bishop Vital Grandin, 1875

3D Computer Reconstruction of Old Sun’s Chapel

Angie Ayoungman (front) and Gwendora Bear Chief (back) point out changes to be made to the virtual reconstruction. October 2021.

Computer science researcher Dr. Katayoon Etemad used historic photographs and survivors accounts to recreate the appearance of the chapel during the 1960’s. Etemad would provide members of the Old Sun Advisory Group with different versions of the model. Members would then suggest changes and send the model back to Etemad for revisions. This “back and forth” process eventually resulted in a closer approximation of how the chapel would have looked to staff and students.

The Prevalence of Religion at Indian Residential Schools

Residential School Survivors describe being indoctrinated with religion, being punished for speaking their language, and being mocked for practicing their culture. Felix Mukego who attended BQ IRS explained: “they try to indoctrinate you with religion. Pound in you a fear of God or whatever God is supposed to be. Made you pray maybe 7 times a day. Made you go to church every morning, whether you like it or not. On your hands and knees. On a cold cement floor to say your Catholic prayers” (Muskego, 2014).

This image gallery shows historic and modern photos of Old Sun College's library. Click on photos to expand and read their captions. If you have photos of that you would like to submit to this archive, please contact us at irsdocumentationproject@gmail.com.

Chapel of Old Sun ca. 1952. Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre, Algoma University

Canon Gibbon Stocken conducting service at Old Sun School. - [ca. 1949]. P75-103-S7-198 from The General Synod Archives, Anglican Church of Canada

Chapel interior, Old Sun Residential School. 1955-1957. NA-4817-65. Courtesy of Glenbow Archives .

Choir at Christmas, Old Sun School. Nativity scene in foreground. Possibly in the chapel. 1955-1957. NA-4817-28. Courtesy of Glenbow Archives .

Mrs. Water Chief (right) and Mrs. Gunny Crow (left) on the steps of Old Sun after leaving church held in the school chapel. 1955-1957. NA-4817-66. Courtesy of Glenbow Archives .

Women and children leaving Old Sun after church in the chapel. Despite community members attending services held in the Old Sun chapel, students were not allowed to speak with them. 1955-1957. NA-4817-67. Courtesy of Glenbow Archives .

Students in the chapel of Old Sun during the filming of a documentary, ca. 1952. Photo Source: Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre, Algoma University

Siksika community members in the chapel of Old Sun during the filming of a documentary, ca. 1952. Photo Source: Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre, Algoma University

Community members in chapel during filming of a movie. 1952. Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre, Algoma University.

Staff in chapel during filming of a movie. 1952. Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre, Algoma University.

Students outside standing in front of the school chapel. 1950s. Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre, Algoma University

Old Sun chapel 1952. Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre, Algoma University

Canon Gibbon Stocken and Chief Paul Little Walker at the front of Old Sun chapel [ca. 1949]. P75-103-S7-197 from The General Synod Archives, Anglican Church of Canada

Ernest Barry Yellow Fly- Rappelled Down the Window

Hello I am Niimistostima, my white name is Ernest Barry Yellow Fly. I am going to tell a story of those that went to residential school, of what happened. I am going to tell the story of those who snuck out. I am first going to say is that we were abused, when we went to residential school. I am going to talk about the junior boy’s dorm, I am going to say it in English. How we were treated so badly some wanted to sneak out and ok this… it was night, late afternoon. These boys were saying they were going to sneak out, they were lonely, some of them wanted to go home. There they were, they started tying blankets together, then they rappelled down the window. Then they each rappelled down. They got caught, this teacher saw them, he worked at night. Then they ran away. They were brought back one by one, I don’t know if they got strapped. The reason I told this story is because it was not very good when we went to school. There was a lot that wanted to go home or sneak away. They got into trouble if they snuck away. So, this is one story I talked about.

Okay, here is another one, we weren’t fed properly when we went to school, the same, junior boy’s dorm. Some used to sneak out, they snuck to the kitchen. They scrounged around for food stuff, they would come back upstairs and feed each of us, that’s how we got treated bad they wouldn’t feed us properly but the teachers and workers, they ate good. We all saw how they ate. For us, our food was meager. So that’s why some went to get stuff to eat. They got stuff from the kitchen and came back upstairs; they would ration out the food to us. Another one, this is where I end my story.

–Niimistostima, Ernest Barry Yellow Fly

Notes:

Oral interview with Niimistostima, Ernest Barry Yellow Fly. Conducted, translated, and transcribed by Gwendora Bear Chief. Old Sun Community College, June 1, 2022.

Featured Image: The new Blackfoot school from the rear. – [193-?]. M55-01-P52 from The General Synod Archives, Anglican Church of Canada.