Long Plain students taken against their will to attend the residential school
with 70 students and 7 staff members.
Portage Indian Residential School students survive the Spanish Flu, but a lot died from tuberculosis.
Compulsory school attendance. IRS expand to lodge 150 Students
Children not allowed to converse with brothers and sisters, or speak at meal time, mail censored, doors kept locked, pulling of hairs and strapped frequently
1950 | Truancy – students not attending school
1952 | Major work begins at school
1957 | Dept. of Indian Affairs and United Church reorganize Brandon & Portage Residential schools
1964 | Only older students – 20% run away
1965 | More major renovations, Jack Harris (JO) now is the principal
1966 | Glee club and sports teams formed
1969 | Indian Affairs takes over management of Portage Residential School
1970 | Attendance drops by 60%
Tragic plane crash with 8 students on Board including the pilot. The students who were on their way home for the summer holidays. All perished in the plane crash in Winnipeg.
20 students placed in private homes and Residential school is closed
The Residential School is closed and stands unused and empty
45 acres of land and the building become part Long Plain 6B
the building housed the Yellow quill College and DOTC offices.
The building is renamed the Rufus Prince Building in honor of a former student, former Chief of Long Plain First Nation, a Treaty Rights Advocate and World War 11 veteran
Long Plain seeks to establish the National Residential School Museum
Full- time Director and Assistant unpack the artifacts and open up office and set up museum in 2 small rooms with displays. Tours of building and survivors share their stories with groups.
Received a National Trust for Canada Governors’ Award for the inspiring ongoing efforts to achieve the vision of a National Indigenous Residential School Museum of Canada – https://nationaltrustcanada.ca/nt-awards/long-plain-first-nation
September 1 | the former Portage La Prairie Indian Residential School is officially designated as a National Historic Site.
Read article here: https://www.portageonline.com/local/portage-residential-school-made-a-historic-national-monument