Do you recognize anyone in these photographs?

In the Fall, a member of our team was able to go to the Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa to transcribe and take photographs from a Souvenir Year Book from the Brandon Residential School from 1939-1940. This yearbook contains numerous photographs of students and staff and, we are reaching out to the community for assistance in identifying the people pictured in this yearbook. We will be posting more photographs throughout the year, so please come back often to check for new posts!

How you can help

If you believe you recognize anyone in the yearbook photos, please contact us. We understand the sensitivity of this information and will handle all communications with the utmost respect and confidentiality.

We recognize that viewing these images may be emotionally challenging for survivors and their families. Support services area available for those who may need assistance: 24 hour service at 1-866-925-4419

Your help with identifying these students is invaluable. Thank you very much!

Image 1: Group of Graduate 1933

Image 2: Tuxis and Trail Ranger Groups and Their Four Leaders

Image 3: The Choral Class and Shield Won

Image 4: Intermediate Pupils with Principal, Teacher and Choral Teacher, 1931-1932

Image 5: Tuxis and Trail Ranger Groups and Their Four Leaders, 1932-1933

2024 Orange Shirt Day

September is always an especially busy event time for the Brandon Residential School Missing Children Investigation team! For Truth and Reconciliation week, on Friday Sioux Valley Dakota High School students came out to the site of the former residential school for some hands-on learning about the different technologies involved in the search. There were drones, GPR, and metal detectors available to try out and Elders Lorraine Pompana and Sandra McKay were on hand to help guide the students in learning about the residential school and its impact on communities. We appreciate the enthusiasm the high school students had for the technology and how quickly they wanted to put it into practice - there are some great future scientists in the bunch!

In conjunction with the City of Brandon, BIRS team members volunteered at the Cultural Camp for Kids in Care event with a drone flight demonstration and we brought our training drones so that the kids could have the opportunity to fly them as well. The kids had fun flying the training mini drones all over the park and often set them flying off the paths into the high grass areas. 

Picture: Brent, Ling, Chris and Katherine with Kids in Care Culture Camp at the Riverbank Discovery Center

On September 30th, Sioux Valley Dakota Nation hosted a powerful Orange Shirt Day event, bringing together community members, dignitaries and survivors to honor those affected by the residential school system and to unveil the memorial tipi and orange hearts.

The event, held at the site of the former Brandon Residential School, saw a large turnout of community members and public dressed in orange, symbolizing the commitment to the principle that Every Child Matters. The day was marked by honoring SVDN survivors, powerful speeches, Unity Riders and moments of reflection. 

Mayor Jeff Fawcett delivered remarks, emphasizing the city’s commitment to reconciliation and acknowledging the painful history of the Brandon Residential School. “We must confront our past to build a better future,” Mayor Fawcett stated, pledging continued support for SVDN’s efforts to locate and honor missing children. 

Picture: Councillors Melissa Hotain and Jon Bell with Mayor Fawcett and Minister Simard

Additionally, The Honorable Glen Simard, Minister of Sport Culture and Culture, also addressed the gathering, highlighting the provinces’ dedication to recognizing the ongoing impact of the residential school system and the importance of education and awareness of these events across Canada. 

This year’s Orange Shirt Day events focused on honoring survivors and remembering the children who never made it home. SVDN survivors were honored with a handmade star blanket, presented/blanketed by the Junior Chief and Council from Sioux Valley High School, with each survivor’s name being called out with a drum honor song being performed subsequently. We would like to thank Junior Chief and Council members: Jason McKay, Aleah Beaulieu, Feather Smoke, Rylie Bell, Tylan Wasteste, Peyton Dowd and Meadow Leaming for all your hard work and dedication at this event. 

Survivors shared their personal stories, providing attendees with a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by those affected by residential schools. Their courage in recounting these experiences highlighted the need for continued dialogue and action toward reconciliation.

Picture: SVDN Survivors blanketed by Junior Chief and Council Members

Lunch was sponsored by Dakota Tiwahe Services and we would like to thank Brenda Smoke, Nicole Antoine and Tracy Campbell for organizing the food and to caterers Choloe Sheane and her team for its preparation. It was delicious and the warm meal was very much welcomed on such a cold day! We would also like to thank Michelle Rosmus for preparing the setting and spirit dish ceremony for the lost children. 

The afternoon activities were filled with the City of Brandon Remembrance Walk participants who walked 6 km from the Riverbank Discovery Center. This year’s walk was particularly challenging due to the high wind but everyone was welcomed and joined us for the dedication of the metal memorial tipi and unveiling of the new wooden orange hearts on the hillside. 

Picture: Public walkers coming to site through new wooden orange heart markers (KeyWest Photo: Rob Lovatt)

The Unity Riders, led by Travis Mazawasicuna, arrived at the site after previously visiting and performing ceremonies at Elkhorn Residential School and Birtle Residential School. Travis spoke about the importance of the horse in Dakota culture and the multi-day journey that the riders have taken to join us at the Orange Shirt Day event. Thank you riders for again coming to the site during the event and raising awareness for the “Every Child Matters” movement.

Picture: Unity Riders Gathering at Memorial Tipi to deliver remarks

The event concluded with the dedication and ribbon cutting of the metal memorial tipi, constructed by Pasqua First Nation’s Pro Metal Company and features the 113 names of the children who died in association with the Brandon Residential School and their 20 home communities. These names and home communities have been identified through survivor testimonies and archival work, but do not represent a completed list. There will be more names and communities added as the archival work progresses and more records become available. The tipi represents not just the pain, but also the resilience of the survivors of the residential school system. It’s a place for remembrance and for looking forward, as such, the ribbon was cut by a residential school survivor and a youth. Tobacco ties were offered in prayer to the missing children and a drum honor song was played. 

Picture: Memorial Tipi Dedication (KeyWest Photo: Rob Lovatt)

The residential school system took an estimated 150,000 children from their families and communities across Canada. If you held a minute of silence for each of those children, you would be silent for roughly 104 days. Orange Shirt Day events play a vital role in raising awareness about the history of residential schools, honoring survivors and remembering the children who were lost.  We would like to extend our appreciation to everyone who participated and contributed to making the event a success. Thank you!