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Day Schools Project: Research guide

The Day Schools Project (DSP) digitized and described records related to the Federal Indian Day Schools system and its legacy. The records discussed in this guide are generally about schools attended by First Nations and Inuit, although many children of the Métis Nation attended these institutions. This guide explains how to search for and read these records.

“Federal Indian Day Schools” is the legal term recognized by the Federal Indian Day School Class Action. From here on, we will simply refer to them as “Day Schools.”

Harmful content

We recognize that materials in government and religious archives can be painful, especially for Indigenous Peoples. Reading historical records that document genocide, assimilation and oppression—often written in biased and hurtful language—can cause distress and harm to researchers.

To learn more or access support, please see the notice about harmful content in Library and Archives Canada holdings.

On this page

Before you start

Gather information:

Make a list of keywords to use in your research, for example, school names (or variants), community names (historical or current).

Consider the time period—when a student attended a school or when a school was in operation, if known.

To help with building your keywords, please note records with enhanced file descriptions include the following keyword-searchable information:

  • Examples of documents contained within each file
  • Indigenous communities and school locations mentioned
  • Names of schools and related institutions
  • Whether student names are included in the file
  • Whether staff names are included in the file

Search tips

Student names are not searchable because they are protected by the Privacy Act. You will need to search by other keywords to get results.

  • Go to Collection search and enter your keywords in the search bar.
    • Search by schools or communities to start. For example, enter “Shubenacadie day school” and click Search.
  • Click on the Archives tab to limit your results to archival material.
  • Use the filters on the left side of the page to limit your results by date, type of material, etc.
  • You may need to combine keywords for more precise results. For example, if the school you are looking for shared its name with another school in a different region, add a location keyword to limit your results. You can also search using name variants, as some schools had the same or similar names. For example:
    • St. Mary's (St. Mary's Reserve, New Brunswick), also known as Devon or North Devon
    • St. Mary's (Cape Croker Reserve, Ontario), also known as Cape Croker Junior or Cape Crocker Junior
    • St. Mary's (near Kenora, Ontario), also known as St. Mary's School, Block, Kenora School
    • St. Mary's (Blood Reserve, Alberta), also known as Blood

More enhanced file descriptions will be added as the project continues until the end of February 2026.

Examples of records

You will find two types of file-level entries in your search. The first image below shows a typical file description and what information is available. The second presents an enhanced file description, which includes additional information added by the DSP.

Typical file entry

Example of a typical file entry. The record has basic reference, it's location in the archival hierarchy and how to access it. Transportation - School Children

Enhanced file description

Example of an enhanced file description. This record has much more information in the general note which is broken down in the sections below. Transportation - School Children
Key to enhanced file description
  1. Title: The name of the file
  2. Finding aid: Where this file and other related records are listed
  3. Reference, File number, BAN number
  4. Type of material
  5. Extent: Amount and type of material included
  6. Additional information: General note: The description of file contents
    1. What's in the file
    2. What communities are mentioned
    3. What schools are mentioned
    4. If student names are mentioned
    5. If staff names are mentioned
  7. Availability of other formats note: Indicates if material is available in any other format
  8. Conditions of access: Indicates any restrictions that may limit access to the material (for more information see Archival document restrictions and access codes)

How to read a record by section

1. Title

The title can determine the file contents. Titles for government records are normally supplied by the originating departments.

2. Finding aid

The finding aid in this example (FA 10-328) tells you which file the finding aid is associated with. Clicking on the finding aid number will display all other files (462 files in this example) within that accession.

3. Reference, File number, BAN number

These sections contain the reference information needed to request the material. For example, R216, RG10, 1998-00773-1, box 22, file number 621/27-8, file part 1A.

Some enhanced file descriptions contain multiple types of material. In this example, the reference numbers for the box and file parts are repeated because the box contains both textual material and maps.

For more information on identifying reference numbers, see Examples of reference numbers and titles.

4. Type of material

Types of materials list the general category: textual records, photographs, maps, architectural drawings, or art.

5. Extent

Extent describes the type of material in a file and how many items are included. For example:

  • Photographs: Black-and-white or colour photographs digitized by the DSP are primarily related to individual buildings or building sites. There is a limited number of photographs of students and staff.
  • Maps: Hand-drawn maps or copies of departmental and/or published maps with hand-drawn annotations.
  • Architectural or technical drawings: Preliminary sketches, architectural drawings or site plans prepared by government and/or private firms (architectural, contracting, survey, etc.). Site plans provide an overview of proposed or active alterations to specific school sites, roads or communities.
  • Art: Includes photomechanical reproductions, such as postcards, hand-drawn illustrations in pencil, crayon or marker, and physical material samples, such as fabric, building materials or crafting supplies.

6. Additional information/general note:

A: Categories and document types

The general note starts with the subjects (or categories) and types of documents in a file. Up to four record categories and four document types may be listed. If there are more categories and types, this will be noted with the statement “including but not limited to.”

Record categories are loosely based on the file blocks assigned by the former Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development to organize their documents. They are determined by using the file block, the file title, and the file contents, including subject matter and document types.

Document types are the specific documents, or groups of documents, found in the file. They help show the subjects of a file. Document types may fall under more than one record category depending on the overall subject matter of the file. In these cases, the most applicable record category is selected.

Examples of document types with corresponding record categories include:

Document types with corresponding record categories
Category Document types
Educational records

Nominal rolls

Student lists

Applications for school admission

Applications for educational assistance

Principal's monthly reports
Financial records

Purchase authority slips

Paylists

Budget documents

Invoices

Statements of expenditures
Building and property records

Maps and blueprints

School inspection reports

Construction project documents
Policy records

Band council resolutions

Circulars

Briefing notes

Treasury Board documents (submissions, approvals, minutes)

Procedures and guidelines
Health and welfare records

Child placement forms

Medical or psychological reports

B: Communities and school locations

The next part of the general note lists the communities and school locations. Communities and school locations include, but are not limited to, entities such as bands, First Nations, reserves, Metis or Inuit settlements, and towns, all searchable by keyword.

C: Names of schools and other institutions

Schools and other institutions are listed next. This includes educational institutes up to the post-secondary level and may also include additional institutions, such as Indian hospitals and student residences. Post-secondary institutions are not included.

In some cases, if an institution is named in the file title, it will not be repeated in the enhanced file description.

When an institution and its location share a name, the location will not be repeated in the enhanced file description unless that location is linked to students mentioned in the file.

D: Names of students and their communities

The descriptions do NOT list the names of students in a file because this information is protected under the Privacy Act. Instead, they note when student names are mentioned.

When you see "This file contains the names of students" this means at least one student name appears in the file.

When you see “Students are named,” it could include:

  • Federal Indian Day School students
  • Indian Residential School students
  • Band School students
  • Provincial School students
  • Joint School students
  • Students living in student residences or private home placements
  • Non-Status, Métis Nation, and Inuit students
  • Post-secondary, vocational training, and adult students may be included in a DSP enhanced file description when:
    • The records include information about schools attended before their enrollment in post-secondary, vocational, or adult education schools or programs.
    • The individual is now involved with a school in a professional or training capacity (student teacher programs, staffing, etc.).
  • The phrase “students mentioned in this file are linked to the following communities” does NOT always mean that these students are ONLY from those specific communities.
  • In some cases, files reference students without indicating a home community, or only provide a band or treaty number.

Record categories most likely to contain documents that include names of students:

  • Educational records
  • Financial records
  • Transportation records
  • Health and welfare records
  • Living arrangement records
    For example:
    • Nominal rolls
    • Lists (student, class)
    • Applications (for educational assistance, for admission)
    • Child placement forms
    • Admission and discharge forms
    • Report cards (student achievement reports, student progress reports)
    • Student action forms
    • Principal's monthly reports

E: Names of school staff

Enhanced file descriptions do NOT list the names of staff, but they do indicate when the file includes them.

7. Availability of other formats note

If the record is digitized, this section will have an e-copy number. This is the unique number given to the digitized copy (for example, e011787377). Use this number, along with the archival reference number, when requesting materials. Please note that only records that have been digitized will have an ecopy number; other records can be requested using the archival reference number.

8. Conditions of access

This section lists the access restriction code for the file. See Access the records for more information.

Other places to look

Access the records

The Day Schools Project digitized files that are open and those restricted by law. Access to each document depends on the access code assigned to it.

Records that are open for consultation (code 90)

Records that are open for consultation can be viewed online if a digital copy exists. The image will be displayed at the top of the record in Collection search. If it does not have a digital copy, you can consult it in person, order copies online or hire a researcher.

Records that are restricted by law (code 32)

Most of the Day Schools records are restricted by law but can still be accessed according to the Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) legislation. If a digital copy exists, you can request the record using the ecopy number (for example, e011787377) listed in the Availability of other formats section.

You will need to submit an ATIP request. Launch the ATIP assistant to help you determine the type of request to submit.

Related links

Contact us

For additional information or help with your research, Ask us a question.

Reference specialists are available by appointment to support your research needs.

For more information about the Day Schools Project, please email our team at projetsurlesexternats-dayschoolsproject@bac-lac.gc.ca.

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