Old Sun Classroom

This computer reconstruction approximates how classrooms at Old Sun Indian Residential school would have appeared. This reconstruction was created using historic photographs as well as descriptions provided by former students.

“I have reason to believe that the agents as a whole … are doing all they can, by refusing food until the Indians are on the verge of starvation, to reduce the expense,” – Sir John A. MacDonald, 1882

Visualizing Classrooms From the Past

Old Sun Community College has undergone a remarkable transformation from an institution of oppression and coercive tutelage to one of that is playing a key role in cultural revitalization. The changing of dormitories into classrooms, and chapels into a library means there is often little within the building to remind staff, students, and visitors about its history as a former Indian Residential School.

Computer reconstruction and gaming technology provide a mean of visualizing how different areas of Old Sun might have appeared in the past. Dr. Katayoon Etemad who is a computer science researcher at the University of Calgary created this reconstruction of a classroom at Old Sun Indian Residential School as it may have appeared in the 1960’s. The model was created using historic photographs and the memories of residential school survivors who attended Old Sun Indian.

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

Old Sun, photograph of students in grade four and five classroom, 1940-1949. Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre, Algoma University

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

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

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

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

Making paper mache masks for Halloween. 1955-1957. NA-4817-54. Courtesy of Glenbow Archives .

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

Sylvia Peacemaker sits between two friends in front of a quonset hut used for additional indoor teaching and recreation space. 1955-1957. na-4817-7. Courtesy of Glenbow Archives

Display of finished items and three students from woodworking class. 1945. P75-103-S7-190 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. 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

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

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

Ramona Low Horn- Stolen Shoes

When we are going home we tied our shoes together and we threw our shoe’s in. We put our names on them. When we returned I couldn’t find my shoes. I just told [the supervisor] I cant find my shoes, they are not in the box, my shoes. She said you better find them. There were no more shoes in there, in the box. When I couldn’t find them I was sent into that room, there was only a bathtub, there was nothing else in there when I put in there. I always remember, Mr. Cole strapped me in there. I thought to myself I’m not going to cry so he wont strap me anymore. I was trying to be strong while he was strapping me. When I wouldn’t cry, he strapped me more. Here they were tying to make me cry.

When I see that room or pass by the room… and through the years I hated that room. I wouldn’t even look that way, in there I got strapped. When I started working here, I couldn’t even look that way. It really was because I was strapped in there. I hate that room, and left a scar, I was all bruised up on my back. Where we [slept], we were placed according to height and age. That night I was looking for my shoes and here a girl stole my shoes. I found them and I will not name her. Those were my shoes that she stole. I told her that morning that I found my shoes and she asked, “where did you find them?”

“I found them over there,” and I gave her the girl’s name. So I don’t know if she got strapped but she was sent to Mr. Cole’s office and I don’t know if she got strapped. That’s why that late girl didn’t like me. She passed away not long ago. There were many times I was tortured.

-Ramona Low Horn

Notes:

Group Oral interview with Angeline Ayoungman, Gwendora Bear Chief, Olivia Good River, Ramona Low Horn, Rosemary Red Gun, Donna Jean Raw Eater, Allan Stevens, Walter Stevens, Francis (Butch) Wolf Leg, and Herman Yellow Old Woman. Conducted by Vivian Ayoungman, Joey Big Snake, Peter Dawson, Madisen Hvidberg, and Brendon Many Bears. Translated and transcribed by Angeline Ayoungman, Gwendora Bear Chief, and Madisen Hvidberg. Old Sun Community College, September 30, 2020.