Old Sun Community College Second Floor

The Second Floor of Old Sun Community College (OSCC). Click on the triangle to load the point cloud. Labels on the point cloud indicate past room functions during Old Sun’s time as a residential school. Important Areas Include Four Large Classrooms and the Chapel.

“Their education must consist not merely of training of the mind, but of a weaning from the habits and feelings of their ancestors, and the acquirements of the language, art and customs of civilized life.” – Egerton Ryerson, 1847 Report for Indian Affairs

The second floor of the college is now used for administrative and operational functions of the institution. Many of the smaller rooms on this floor are used as offices for current staff, including the main office for the college, the registrars’ office, and the presidents’ office. The southernmost side of this floor features two classrooms, while the northern side has the classroom for the computer lab. This end of the building connects with the converted annex, which now has multiple staff offices, a kitchen, and a boardroom. Towards the back end of the main floor is the college library which used to be the former chapel. The chapel now functions as a library and is one of many examples of transformational resilience in the building. The apse which is a standard part of any church plan, for example, currently houses the Siksika Story Robe Winter Count, which was commissioned to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the college. The library also has an Indigenous focused literary collection for use in the college, along with computer stations, and an entrance decorated with student artwork and archival photos of Siksika Nation members.

Children in classroom, 1950s. Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre, Algoma University

When Old Sun operated as a residential school, this central wing of the main floor contained the chapel. The mid-section of the floor served both as offices for the administration of the school and included the principal’s office. The south side contained two classrooms where students divided by age would attend a variety of basic lessons. The classrooms themselves used to be separated by a short hallway leading out to a building that was once attached to the south side of the school. This building which no longer stands had additional classrooms, offices, and staff residences. The north end of the first floor contained classrooms for grades 3 and 4, as well as the annex/former Anglican minister’s quarters. The minister was also the principal of the school. This building was added to the original school building and once contained a living area, kitchen, dining room, as well as several bedrooms on its second floor. The annex was home to the minister, his family, and invited guests.

Old Sun Chapel: “A Room for Prayer and Abuse”

Old Sun’s Chapel. Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre, Algoma University

Situated architecturally in the middle of the school, the children would be brought into the chapel from their separate playrooms (boys and girls). Once the bell alerting them that it was time to attend chapel had sounded, the children would file into their respective sides of the church and stand while the minister entered with the choir behind him. Students were required to pray before each meal and attend service in the chapel every morning before classes, and every evening after dinner, as well as kneel and pray before bedtime. When chapel services were open to the community, children would file in first, followed by parents and other family members who would enter the chapel and sit on the men and women sides. Children attending the school were not allowed to speak with or even look at family members. When recalling her experience in the chapel, survivor Gwendora Bear Chief said “it was a room for prayers and abuse.”

Left click and drag your mouse around the screen to view different areas of each room. If you have a touch screen, simply drag your finger across the screen. Your keyboard's arrow keys can also be used. Travel to different areas of the second floor by clicking on the floating arrows.

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

Earnie Water Chief on the front steps of Old Sun IRS, 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

View west of Old Sun, taken from the roof of the chapel. 1951. Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre, Algoma University.

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

Junior Classroom. Posed photo of students seated at their desks with teacher (blurred) standing at the back - 1945. P75-103-S7-182 from The General Synod Archives, Anglican Church of Canada

Senior classroom. Photo consists of students sitting at their desks, in view from front of classroom to the rear- 1945. P75-103-S7-184 from The General Synod Archives, Anglican Church of Canada

Morning Prayer. View from rear to front of school chapel, with pews filled with students and distant principal conducting service- [194-?]. P75-103-S7-185 from The General Synod Archives, Anglican Church of Canada

Grades 3 and 4. View of classroom with students at their desks and teacher standing at rear- [194-?]. P75-103-S7-193 from The General Synod Archives, Anglican Church of Canada

Sister and brother Audrey and Colin Stimson sitting outside the front entrance steps - [193-?]. P75-103-S7-194 from The General Synod Archives, Anglican Church of Canada

Chapel of Old Sun ca. 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

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

Senior students. Photo consists of senior girls at their desks, boys standing against side wall, and Principal and staff member standing at rear- [194-?]. P75-103-S7-201 from The General Synod Archives, Anglican Church of Canada

Grades 4 and 5 classroom with students working at their desks- [194-?]. P75-103-S7-205 from The General Synod Archives, Anglican Church of Canada

Senior class and teacher Miss J. Rutherford. - [194- ?]. P75-103-S7-206 from The General Synod Archives, Anglican Church of Canada

Junior students - 1952. P75-103-S7-208 from The General Synod Archives, Anglican Church of Canada

Junior Classroom. Posed photo of students seated at their desks with teacher (blurred) standing at the back - 1945. P7538-1005 from The General Synod Archives, Anglican Church of Canada

Formal classroom photo of students at their desks. Principal and teacher stand at the back - [194-?]. P7538-1015 from The General Synod Archives, Anglican Church of Canada

Making paper mache masks for Halloween. 1955-1957. NA-4817-55. Courtesy of Glenbow Archives .

Making paper mache masks for Halloween. 1955-1957. NA-4817-54. 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

Mildred Richardson, teacher, second from left, with senior students. On front steps into the school, which enter into the central east-west corridor. 1956. NA-4817-15. Courtesy of Glenbow Archives .

Christmas service choir, on the front steps which lead to the central east-west corridor of the second floor. Girls are wearing berets. 1955-1957. NA-4817-30. Courtesy of Glenbow Archives .

Grade 7 students in a classroom. 1956. NA-4817-11. Courtesy of Glenbow Archives .

Students in a classroom. 1955-1957. NA-4817-10. Courtesy of Glenbow Archives .

Duncan Winnipeg sits at a desk in a classroom. 1955-1957. NA-4817-9. Courtesy of Glenbow Archives .

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

Fake store set up in one of the classrooms of Old Sun IRS, ca. 1952. Photo Source: Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre, Algoma University

Students in one of the classrooms of Old Sun IRS, ca. 1952. Photo Source: Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre, Algoma University

School boys outside on steps of the first floor main entrance. May 1952. Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre, Algoma University.

Laser scanning data can be used to create “as built” architectural plans which can support repair and restoration work to Old Sun Community College. This plan was created using Autodesk Revit and forms part of a larger building information model (BIM) of the school. The Revit drawings and laser scanning data for this school are securely archived with access controlled by the Old Sun Advisory Committee.

Some of the threats faced by Indigenous students attending residential schools came from the buildings themselves. The architectural plans contained in this archive, which have been constructed using the laser scanning data, illustrate how poorly these schools were designed from a safety perspective. There were three specific areas that placed the health and safety of students at great risk: Fire Hazards and Protection Measures; Water Quality, and Sanitation and Hygiene. As you explore the archive, you will find more information about the nature of these hazards and their impact on students.

Eileen Black- The Teachers Were so Cruel

Ok my name, my English name is Eileen Black. My Siksika name is Isitsimani, it was given to me when I was young, and I grew up with this name. I was never given a different name. I grew up and was raised when I was young by my father and mother a who were members of the Horn Society, the Horns. The way of life they lived we were taught to be kind and respect people and to listen. Now I am sitting here in, I forget how to say Old Sun in Blackfoot. Interviewer said Natosapiois (Old Sun School) So that makes sense Natosapiois the Old Sun School.

I was still young, I think maybe I was 6 years old when I started, when I was brought here to start school. Ah, then I was still very young… I couldn’t understand I couldn’t understand why I was not at home anymore with my mother. I was brought here [Old Sun], I had never been in a house this huge. We came here for church in the chapel on Sundays and then we were brought here to start school. There’s so much I don’t remember, I can’t remember. I don’t know if it’s because when I finished, that’s not quite the word I want to say but when I finished here, I’m thinking of what happened to me at the residential school.

There were many things that I saw in the classrooms especially. Ah my classmates, the way they were treated bad not only by the teachers but by the others who stayed at the residential school. I couldn’t understand, I could never understand, I used to think we were all from the same tribe. Yet they were so bad and mean by hitting, pinching, and because of them I was treated bad by them. When we see them in church with their parents, they would act so innocent about the bad way they acted.

The teachers were so cruel, so mean, and so bad. It seems like they thought at the snap of a finger we would just understand English. I was raised with the Blackfoot language and we hardly ever spoke English at home. English, we hardly spoke English ‘till the teachers. If we did not pronounce properly this language, they wouldn’t speak to us in a gentle way instead they would just shout. Shout at and yell at you. They had those, I hated those big wooden rulers [laughs], they used to slap our hands and tell you, “don’t say that! You say it this way.” Some would bluntly say, now a days we know that’s not acceptable, they tell us, “you are stupid. You are stupid, you don’t know anything, and you are not going to ever learn anything. You are so stupid in English.”

So how could we… how could we [clears throat]… how could we understand what we are being taught when they speak to us in this manner? Because all the time we were scared, Myself, I was scared all of the time. I was scared I might say the wrong thing and then get slapped on my hand and get… especially that, her name was… I did not know her well but I was in class with her. Her name was… I would see I was around her enough to know when she used to pinch us, specially our ears… Mrs. King or Miss King. And I used to think how that I understand about residential school, they were so cruel. And had a big nose. I wish I knew how to talk back to her and tell her that.

I think of how in the past I was a mean person, and I know where this behavior comes from. Where it comes from, being a mean person, is because of the bad experience I had at residential school. I used to think if I had ever met that Miss King, I think, I think would have slapped her face at that time. I think I would have hit her and I would not tell why or who I am. I would just slap her hard and tell her “how does that feel?” But along the years I learned, ah, I learned ah… to forgive. It was really hard for people like that, to pray for them. Because I was taught when I was young to pray for and to forgive. That is our way of life and how we were taught. They stressed for us to follow those ways and teachings, in our cultural way of life. And so that is one the things I had to work on for that Miss King, and she was not the only one, forgiveness.

So, I have learned to forgive. I have learned to forgive but I can’t say I forgotten, ‘cause we are never going to forget this, ever. If you have gone through the residential school experience, it is something that you will always remember but you have to work on, on that forgiveness. You have to forgive yourself because a lot of times us, we blame ourselves. Me, I blamed myself instead of the other way around. I blamed myself ‘till I understood. So now I can… I let that anger go. I let that hate go. And her… that’s her dealings with the Creator. Now I have to look after myself me and I was able to continue and able to continue try hard.

– Isitsimani, Eileen Black

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