MARY'S GENEALOGY TREASURES
Blood Chronology of Education
A look at the Bloods
CHRONOLOGY OF EDUCATION
1890- 1914
Blood students attended two church schools.
1. The Calgary Industrial School for Anglicans and
2. The Dunbow Catholic Mission School.
These schools were for all Indians in Alberta and some from
Saskatchewan. Dunbow was east of Calgary. Blood students
left reservation and did not return until they left these
institutions. Both were residences.
1900-1924
Catholic students began attending old Standoff Mission on
reserve, mission built in 1898. Anglican students began
attending Old Agency Anglican School on the reservation.
Both were residences.
1924
St. Paul's Anglican School was built and reserve land was
allocated to this church for educational purposes.
Buildings were given to church from Federal Government.
(Residence.)
1925
St. Mary's Roman Catholic School was built. Areas of land
close to the school were set aside for the school's farming
operations so that this institution would be self supporting.
(Same arrangement as Anglican School.) Also a residence.
1925
School Musical Band from St. Mary's R.C. School performed
in town of Fort Macleod for Silver Jubilee and won I st Prize.
1938
Policy of Dept. of Indian Affairs that no Indian could receive
better than a grade 8 education. Also 16 years was the
school leaving age. Federal schools on reserve followed
the Alberta curriculum standards.
1942
Inspector Evanson from Ottawa sent to St. Mary's and St.
Paul's schools to inspect operations. First time grade IO
at St. Paul's.
1945
First person to go beyond grade 8 education on Blood Reserve
- Flora Shade.
1949
School Gym opens for St. Mary's.
1950
Federal government lifted their practice of laissez-faire towards
the Indian and this was replaced by strong federal presence.
1954
New Standoff Day School (Elementary School). New program,
Old Army Barracks for buildings. Students encouraged to
attend day school - residence discouraged. Move on part
of federal government to decentralize education.
1955
Girl's Gym completed - St. Mary's. First P.T.A. meeting. First
yearbook attempt. First television at St. Mary's on reserve.
Total number of students still in residence was 284,
Whole school quarantined against spinal meningitis.
1956
St. Mary's had Ist School rodeo. Busing from home to schools
began, where some Indians ran buses for Enerson's of
Lethbridge. First Indian Teacher on staff, Mrs. Lena Russell.
Video introduced to school at St. Mary's. Chief Shot Both Sides
I st, died.
1957
New policy of integration being talked about by leaders and
Indian Affairs.
1958
First time for grade nine at St. Mary's school. Also first vear for
grade nine departmentals for St. Mary's.
1959
First year of High School - grade IO (only) at St. Mary's.
1960
St. Mary's New School Block for High School completed.
Total number of students at St. Mary'sboth day-school students
and residential equals 300. First time for a grade I I class at
St. Mary's plus automotives, woodwork, metal work, Home Ec.
added to curricula.
1961
First year for grade 12 at St. Mary's. High school is fully offered.
1962
Dept. of Indian Affairs initiated a policy of cutting back on
spending for Indian Education.
1963
Strong move on part of federal government to integrate
Indian students in provincial schools.
1964
One-half of all Blood students were in provincial schools.
Attempts by Dept. of Indian Affairs to place Indian Education
under the province (in our case - Alberta).
1965
First school Committee formed - Band Council members
appointed only.
1966
First time number of Blood students attending provincial
schools outnumber those Blood students attending federal
schools (St. Mary's and St. Paul's). Foster home program
not working where Blood students attending provincial
schools live-in with white families. Parents upset and
complaining.
1967
St. Paul's Anglican School (Residential) closed. Most
Anglican students going to provincial schools.
1968
St. Mary's School almost closed.
1969
Adult night classes begin at Levern Day School, for first time.
Vice-principal at St. Mary's burned and destroyed all files
and records relevant to Indian education. Move to Levern
and Standoff non-denominational schools.
1970
Standoff Elementary School (new building) complete. Adult
night classes begin to be offered in Levern Day School
with cultural teaching by elders.
1971
Kainai Bus Co-op formed. Blood Tribe Kainai community
services meeting with Dept. of Indian Affairs. Working
towards a centralized Adult Education Center at vacant
St. Paul's building. Ninastako Adult Education Center
established at St. Paul's. Leo Fox - coordinator.
1972
Standoff Kindergarten building opens door to all
kindergarten children from Blood Reserve.
1973
Native American Studies finalized by provincial government,
Dept. of Indian Affairs, the University of Lethbridge and
the Native people themselves; foundations also involved.
1975
U of L held off campus courses at St. Mary's School.
Agriculture training talked about for St. Mary's School.
Marvin Fox hired to coordinate Education on Blood Reserve.
1976
Green Certificate Program starts up at St. Mary's in field of
Agriculture. Three Social Counsellors hired by the Band to
counsel students from reserve. First Indian Education
counsellor - Mrs. Helen Many Fingers.
1977
Number of students at university and college graduates from
Blood Reserve are 16 or more registered in 1976 Indian
Graduate Register. Dept. of Indian Affairs posing proposal
that "treaty Indian students in post-secondary institutions
need not pay or contribute towards their education but
the amount allocated for post-secondary education for Blood
Reserve would remain the same. " This year total number of
full time post-secondary students in colleges and university are
140. Blackfoot Language Program started, Leo Fox for Blood
Reserve. Total number of Blood students - 2000 (actual 1964).
Total number of Blood people - 5143 (population).
1978
Life skills program starts for adults in Standoff.
1979
Doreen Rabbit appointed Principal at Levern. First Indian
Principal on Blood Reserve.
1981
Provisional School Board set up by Band Council. Gordon
Many Fingers, Winston Day Chief, Virginia Many Fingers,
Jordan Bruised Head, Hazel Eli, and Philip Mistaken Chief.
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Mary Tollestrup