St. Mary’s Indian Residential School (IRS) was located on the Blood (Kainai Nation) reserve southwest of Lethbridge. The school operated from 1898 - 1988 (90 years).
Other names identifying the residential school from 1898 include Immaculate Conception Boarding School and Roman Catholic Boarding School on the Blood Reserve. From 1926, Blood Indian Residential School, Blood R.C. Indian Residential School, Blood Residential School, Blood IRS, St. Mary’s R.C. Residential School, and St. Mary’s Indian Residential School. Following the separation of the student residence and the day school in 1969, the school was known as St. Mary’s School, St. Mary’s Blood Indian School, Blood Day School, and St. Mary’s Day School and the residence were known as St. Mary’s Student Residence, Blood Student Residence, St. Mary’s Blood Student Residence, and Blood Student Hostel. However, following the separation, the entire institution was still known as St. Mary’s Indian Residential School or Blood IRS.
The Government of Canada was responsible for funding the school, which was managed and operated by the Roman Catholic Church through the R.R. Sisters of Charity (Grey Nuns of Montreal) from 1898 - 1926. The Order of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate operated Blood IRS from April 1, 1926, until 1969. Contracts with the Oblate Fathers for the operation of the Student Residence are in place until 1973.
In 1962, an agreement for the operation of the Blood IRS between INDIANESCOM and the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.
No information is available to indicate what grades were taught.
Students from both the Peigan and Blackfoot communities attended the school.
Student enrolment statistics are inconsistent from 1898 – 1923; however, more consistent from 1927 – 1980. There exists a low enrolment of 25 in 1898 and a high enrolment of 320 in 1958. Enrolment statistics from 1953 include day school students.
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