Article 6: Residential School Days
Alicia Stensgard
(Disclaimer of the playwright: This play portrays traumatic experiences of residential school survivors. All the names, characters, places, events and incidents in this play are either the product of my research on residential schools in Canada or my imagination based on the stories I have heard about the residential schools. or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.)
Character List
Thomas (Tommy) Brown: 11-year-old Cree boy from the Pisim First Nation (located 400 km North of Thompson, MB). Known by his people as Osâwisip, meaning Brown Duck in the Cree language. Speaks both Cree and English fluently because of his father who attended Residential school in the 1930s. Has learned hunting, trapping, and survival skills from his traditional father who provides for his family off the land.
Samuel Spence: 10-year-old Cree boy from Reindeer Lake First Nation (located 600 km North of Thompson, MB). Known by his family as Waskahikan PÎwâyisis, meaning Sparrow in the Cree language. Speaks only Cree. Has grown Grew up with a single father who is an alcoholic, therefore does not have knowledge on traditional Indigenous ways of survival.
Father Jack Field: 70-year-old man, weathered appearance, white hair. Very ornery individual who is very ignorant of Indigenous people and culture. Roman Catholic Priest.
Sister Marie Leeland: 40-year-old woman, traditional Catholic Nun. She has a soft spot for Thomas (Tommy). However, due to the lack of language, Samuel gets on her nerves and she shows it through her actions.
Officer Smith: Big, 35-year-old man, Caucasian RCMP officer. Ignorant towards Indigenous people.
Officer Joseph: Short, 29-year-old man, Caucasian RCMP officer. Gentle personality towards all people.
Scene One
The year is 1959. A bus full of young Indian boys has pulled up to the Norman Indian Residential School. Boys young as five years old up to sixteen years old dash out of a beat down, rickety old yellow bus. After the first twelve boys get out, two boys named Osâwisip (Thomas) and Waskahikan PÎwâyisis (Samuel) follow exhausted. Father Jack Field and Sister Marie are standing by the entrance of the yard ready to greet the new students.
Father Jack
(Loud and excitedly) Welcome boys to the Norman Residential School! (Pause.) Here at our school you will learn how to be civil and obedient to our heavenly Father. Please stay in an orderly line so that we can clean you up. (Pause.) Cleanliness is next to Godliness!
Sister Marie
Hush up! Be quiet! (Angrily shouting down at the children.) I donât want to hear one word spoken in your savage languages. You are now children of God. Forget what your family has taught you. You belong to God and must act that way!
Osâwisip (Tommy) and Waskahikan PĂŽwâyisis (Samuel) look at each other with fear in their eyes. Tommy understands what Father Jack and Sister Marie are saying but Samuel, not knowing the English language, is confused and unaware of what to do. Samuel follows Tommyâs lead.
Tommy
(Whispering to Samuel in Cree) That lady is telling us to be quiet and she looks mean. Whatever you do, donât talk in our language. Follow me buddy, I will help you understand their commands. We gotta stick together.
Samuel
(With tears in his eyes) Okay friend, but I want to go home. I donât want to stay here. What about our families? They are missing us and we miss them. What if I canât take it? I have heard stories about these places from uncles and aunties. Iâm so scared!
Tommy
I said enough! Stop talking in Cree! We will get in trouble. I just saw that lady dressed in black hit that older boy with a metal stick thing. We donât want that to happen to us. We will talk later when that man and woman are gone. Shhh for now! (Holding his finger to his mouth, gesturing Samuel to keep his mouth closed.)
Priest Jack and Sister Marie are going down the line of boys to observe each child. They get to the end of the line where Tommy and Samuel are standing.
Father Jack
What is your name boy? (Talking to Tommy.)
Tommy (Keeping his eyes on the ground) Thomas.
Father Jack
A Christian name? Your parents must be smart to have given you a Christian name. (Glaring at Samuel now) What is your name boy!?
Samuel just stands there looking at the ground scared to talk because of what Tommy told him. He tries hard not to cry but eventually tears begin to roll down his cheeks. He notices Sister Marie watching his crying and she approached Samuel.
Sister Marie
Why in Godâs name are you crying? Father Jack is talking to you. You savages are all the same. Uncivilized, I tell you, uncivilized. (Shaking her head.)
Sister Marie goes to grab the metal stick in her pocket. Tommy steps forward.
Tommy
He doesnât know English. He can only speak our Cree language. He is scared to get into trouble if he talks. (His body is trembling knowing that his behavior could lead to that metal stick being used on him.) His name is Sparrow.
Sister Marie
Did you say Sparrow? What blasphemy! (Throwing her arms up in fury.) He needs a Christian name. In this school, all children need Christian names. I will not teach a bunch of savages. (Speaking loudly to Father Jack) This boy needs a Christian name so I can properly address him. (Pointing at to Sparrow.)
Father Jack
What aboutâŚSamuel. Yes, Samuel will be his name. Samuel! (Talking down to Samuel) You will now be known as Samuel, not this Sparrow Thomas speaks of.
Unaware of what Father Jack and Sister Marie are talking about. Samuel, with sorrow in his eyes, looks over at Thomas who is gesturing him to smile. Samuel makes his best attempt at smiling.
Father Jack
Okay, very well! Now you young men! Time to get clean. Everyone follow me.
Father Jack leads the boys in a single file line into the school. Sister Marie is closely following Tommy and Samuel who take up the last two spots in line. The two adults walk the fourteen boys up the stairs to the dormitory. The boys see all the white hard furniture as they follow Father Jack. Looking at each other with astonishment and fear in their eyes.
End of Scene One
Scene Two
Each boy is standing in front of a small, white, metal bed. A line of pee-stained mattresses cover the beds. Tommy and Samuel are furthest away from the door of the dormitory. Placed right next to the window, a small dirty window to be more precise, Samuel and Tommy watch as Sister Marie is cutting off the other boyâs long ponytails. Father Jack is placing what appears to be boiling water into a small rusty metal tub that is sitting next to each bed.
Father Jack
This water will wash off the dirt from your body, a bunch of heathens. (Talking to himself as he gets to Tommy and Samuelâs tubs at the end of the dormitory) I donât understand how these children can sit around and be all dirty. Itâs disgusting and I will not have them covered in dirt at my school. (Yelling at the boys) Do you hear me! I will not allow any of my students to be dirty. You must be clean to be close to God.
Sister Marie
I know, how could they live this way? I donât understand these savages. We will clean them up thoroughly. (Approaching Tommy with her a pair of big silver scissors) We will show these children how civilized people dress and act.
Tommy
Please Sister Marie. Donât cut my hair. I have been growing it since I was a baby. Please donât cut it. (Pleading to Sister Marie with tears in his eyes.)
Sister Marie
Now you be quiet! I donât want to discipline you Thomas, but I will if I have to. Be a good boy and hush up. (Smiling) You wonât even feel it.
Tommy begins to cry as Sister Marie chops of his long brown braid that touched the middle of his back. Miserable, Tommy looks over at Samuel and lips to him in Cree to be strong. Samuel looks heart-broken for he knows it is his turn next. Sister Marie moves onto Samuel and cuts his long black ponytail. Samuel stays strong as his hair hits the ground.
Father Jack
Okay all you boys take off your clothes. In my school, you will wear uniforms that signify sophistication. Not these ugly, tattered rags! (Throwing one boyâs discarded clothing in the garbage.) Now get in the tubs. Sister Marie will come around and give each of you soap to wash off the sins of your people.
Sister Marie approach the boys sitting in their tubs with a bucket and throws a white powdery substance all over their exposed bodies. The children begin to move and yell in discomfort as the delousing powder begins to burn their skin and eyes. Tommy and Samuel are eagerly trying to scrub the powder off with hard bristled brushes. Finally, after the boys are done bathing. All the boys get into their linen pajamas and crawl into their musty smelling beds.
Father Jack
Okay boys. Get used to saying the Lordâs Prayer. I will say it tonight as we will teach it to you first thing in the morning. Now hold your hands like this. (Father Jack gestures the boys to hold their hands together in order to pray and begins to pray.) Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom comes. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Father Jack and Sister Marie turn off all the lights and demand all the boys to close their eyes and go to sleep. You can hear empty stomach turning and the sound of hollowness echoes through the dormitory. After a few minutes of darkness and silence, Samuel turns toward Thomas.
Samuel
(In Cree) Why do they yell at us and hurt us like that? I donât understand what is happening. They keep talking to me and I donât know how to answer them. What do I do Tommy?
Tommy
(In Cree) My dad told me about what happened to him here a long time ago. He told me to do what I am told. Do exactly as I am told. When they are done with you, he said, you get to come home and be with us. My dad didnât talk about what happened that hurts us like that stuff Sister Marie put on us. I hope it doesnât get worse. Be strong my friend. We will get through this together. Now get some sleep. Tomorrow is another day. We might not have much but we have each other. Good night! (Tommy curls up and goes to sleep.)
Samuel
(In Cree) Sure; wish I could be as tough as you Tommy, good night! (Samuel still agitated from the delousing, tries to close his eyes in order to sleep.)
The boys all go to bed in the smell of musty ammonia from the pee soaked mattresses they sleep on.
End of Scene Two
Scene Three
The next morning, Father Jack enters the boyâs dormitory at 6:00 AM sharp. He loudly rings the bell to wake up the boys and directs them to get dressed. After the boys are ready, they head to the big classroom with several rows of pews and Bibles neatly placed on the seats. Tommy and Samuel slowly walk towards the back of the row of pews and sit down.
Father Jack
Good morning! Welcome to the Norman Indian Residential School. Here you will learn how to act like a civilized member of society. In order for you all to be conformed into good Christians, you must learn about God and learn to praise him. (Looking up to the ceiling with his arms in the air.) Now repeat after me. (Gesturing the boys to hold their hands together in order to pray.) Our father who art in heaven.
Group of Boys
Our father who art in heaven.
Father Jack
Hallowed be thy name.
Group of Boys
Hallowed be thy name.
Father Jack
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done.
Group of Boys
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done.
Tommy
(Speaking quietly in Cree to Samuel) Try to copy Father Jack. He is teaching us his godâs prayer. If you donât join, you will get into trouble.
Father Jack
Who is speaking!! I am trying to teach you all the Lordâs Prayer. Was that you Thomas? Were you speaking your savage language?
Tommy
Yes sir. (Head down) I was telling another boy what weâre doing. He canât understand English.
Father Jack
How dare you interrupt the Lordâs Prayer? Come here right now! (Gesturing Tommy to come to the front of the room.)
Tommy slowly walks from the pew to the front of the room where Father Jack is standing with his Bible. Father Jack pulls out a wooden stick from a pocket in his cassock. He strikes Tommy several times across his forearm. After, Tommy, with tears in his eyes and a bloody swollen forearm, walks back to his assigned pew and sits down.
Father Jack
Now boys let us begin again. Repeat after me! Our father who art in heaven.
Group of Boys
Our father who art in heaven.
Father Jack
Hallowed be thy name.
Group of Boys
Hallowed be thy name.
Father Jack
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done.
Group of Boys
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done.
Group of Boys
On earth as it is in heaven.
Father Jack
Give us this day our daily bread.
Group of Boys
Give us this day our daily bread.
Father Jack
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Group of Boys
And forgive us our trespasses, (slightly muffled) as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Father Jack
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Group of Boys
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Father Jack
(Smiling) Amen!
Group of Boys
(Unenthusiastic) Amen
Father Jack
Now I expect you all to memorize that by tomorrow. Now grab your Bible and open up to the first scripture.
The boys take out their Bibles and page through until they get to the first scripture, Genesis. Tommy grabs his forearm, still in a lot of pain. He stares at his Bible with the rest of the group.
End of Scene Three
Scene Four
After three days of prayer lessons, and occasionally English, and reading lessons, Tommy still angry from getting hit by Father Jackâs wooden stick, decides he will run away and ask Samuel to come with him. Tommy thinks that his dadâs teachings of traditional hunting, trapping, and overall survival could save them from this place. Scared to be left at school alone, Samuel agrees to Tommyâs plan to run away. Now the boys are cautiously storing table scraps to take on their journey away from the Norman Indian Residential School. Sitting in the Dining Room of the school, the boys are talking to each other about their plans very quietly.
Tommy
(Whispering in Cree) I canât take this anymore. I have bruises the size of beaver traps on my back and I am still bleeding from the strapping Father Jack gave me. We need to get out of here tonight. Find as many table scraps as you can get. Put them in your underpants so the nuns and priests do not see. Be Careful! Always be looking around. We donât want to get caught.
Samuel
Iâm trying. All I have found so far is a couple pieces of bread that were dropped and what I think is an apple. Itâs pretty small and shrivelled up. I am so nervous. What will happen to us if we get caught?
Tommy
Donât be nervous. We will get away if we stay smart. Shhh! Sister Marie is coming.
Sister Marie walks by the two boys and tells Thomas to eat all his food. She stares at Samuel maliciously and continues to walk to her table where Father Jack and other staff members are sitting on the opposite side of the enormous mess hall.
Tommy
Okay, she is far away now. So, we are taking off tonight. Last night, I checked to see if the door was open and it was. We just have to go out the door to the dormitory and then there is an open window with a big brick wall. I checked it out. (Still whispering and watching around them.) We can climb down but we have to be quiet so we donât wake anyone. We will leave four hours after lights are off. That will give us from midnight to morning to get away without being noticed. We can do this Samuel. We can make it home.
Samuel
Okay I trust you Tommy. I feel bad for the boys who have to stay here when we leave. We will make it home eh? I really hope so. I miss my granny. (Determination in his voice) Tonight it is!
The boys continuing eating scraps of their terrible food. Once in a while they put piece of burnt biscuits and what can only be assumed as ham slices into their underwear to take on their mission to escape Norman Indian Residential School and return home.
End of Scene Four
Scene Five
That night, Tommy and Samuel follow their escape plans. Four hours after Father Jack has turned off the light and gone to bed himself, the boys take their scraps of food wrapped up in a linen pillow case and follow Tommyâs plan of going out through the window and scaling down the brick wall. Being cautious and very quiet the boys make it down the wall and run in the darkness to the treeline northeast of the school. Once several hundred feet away and out of sight the boys are excited yet scared.
Tommy
I canât believe we made it. I got so scared when I heard that sound down the hallway. It must have been someone snoring or something.
Samuel
(Proudly speaking in Cree) My heart almost stopped when I heard that noise too. Iâm glad you went down that brick wall first. I probably would have gotten hurt if it wasnât for you catching me that last five feet down the wall. Do you know where to go? (Looking around confused.)
Tommy
I think we are close to Thompson. I overheard Father Jack talking to Sister Marie about going to town to get something. He said it took less than an hour to get there. Maybe we should try to find Thompson so we can go home. (Talking to Samuel) Well, letâs walk all night. So, we can be far away when they all wake up and notice we are gone. I donât want them to come after us. I am sick of that place. It hasnât even been a week yet and that place makes me so sad. (Smiling) We are free now!
Samuel
I am so happy we were next to each other on that bus. I would have never had the nerve to run off by myself. But look we did it. We are free in the bush. Letâs go, friend! (Smiling, with hope in his eyes.)
The boys run off deeper into the bush in a south-west direction. Tommy is following the river because he was taught that from his father to survive. They walked and ran for over six hours while still dark.
End of Scene Five
Scene Six
Itâs 6:00 am the next morning. Tommy and Samuel are exhausted and sleepy. Tommy knows they have gotten far away from the school and they have found a nice place, hidden away, to stop and sleep for a couple of hours. Just as the boys are trying to find a comfortable place to lay, a GIANT bull moose walks out of the bush into their clearing and stares at the boys with steam pouring from his mouth.
Tommy
Okay Samuel, be really still. Do not move! That moose is looking for a female to mate. It is rutting season and they are extremely aggressive at this time of the year. (Trembling knowing how dangerous this situation is.) Slowly step backwards to that tree and slowlyâŚ. really slowly begin to climb it so you are out of reach to that moose. I will stay here and keep the attention on me. (Yelling as quiet as possible) DO IT NOW!
Samuel tiptoes backwards and feels the massive tree behind him. He slowly turns and places his hands and feet on the tree and climbs quickly. Out of breath Samuel calls to Tommy from high in the tree.
Samuel
(Out of breath) Okay, I made it. What about you now? What are you gonna do? (Closely watching the bull moose staring at Tommy.)
Tommy
(Quietly) I will do the same. I see a tree about five feet to the right of me. I will slowly walk over there and climb it. (Nervously agitated) Distract that big beast for me. Throw a branch or something. He canât hurt you. That tree is too big for him to knock it over. Okay, do it now!
Just then Samuel takes a big branch and with a snap throws it towards the big, bull moose. Now that moose is just foaming at the lips. Samuel watches the moose move towards the branch as it takes his attention off Tommy. Tommy notices this as well and slowly makes his way towards the tree. Almost effortlessly, Tommy climbs up the tree and to safety. The boys sit there for almost an hour until the big beast left.
Tommy
Well, that was a first time for me. Iâve been on many moose hunts with my dad but never without a weapon. (Jokingly) I wish I had a knife. We would be eating like kings right now.
Samuel
(Amused) Yea I can see you now. Jumping on that big beast and cutting its throat. You are so brave Tommy. One day I will be just like you.
Tommy
What do you mean Iâm brave? You are brave too. You have done everything I have done so far.
Samuel
Now that I think of it, I have. (Proudly) I guess I am tough. (Chuckles) Tough like an Indian! What now Tommy? Can we sleep or do we have to keep going?
Tommy
I think it would be safe enough to get an hour of sleep or maybe two. I am so tired and we donât have enough food to give us the energy needed. Letâs sleep for a while and then go again. I think it will be safer to travel during the day anyways. (Looking down at the ground) I think I am gonna sleep up here though. Just to keep an eye out.
Samuel
I think thatâs a great plan. Plus, my tree is comfy. Okay good night. (Laughing) I guess I should say good morning since its still only morning time.
Tommy
Good night. (Smiling) D donât fall off now. (Laughing)
The boys close their eyes and drift off into a well needed sleep. Several hours pass and when the sun begins to set, the boys take off. They continue following the river.
End of Scene Six
Scene Seven
While following the river, Samuel spots what seems to look like a paved road. Curious, Samuel asks Tommy to go and check it out with him. Being from a reservation without paved roads, this is intriguing to him. The boys venture over to the paved road and follow it for about an hour. Getting lazy, the boys donât notice the vehicle driving in their direction. Just as the lights shine the boys try to run. However, the RCMP officers are faster than they are.
Officer Joseph
What are you boys doing out here at this time of night? (Asking nicely) Arenât you supposed to be in school?
Officer Smith
These savages probably ran away. They donât even understand or appreciate these schools our government has graciously given to them. (Proud and ignorant) In my opinion, savages donât deserve anything. Wasting all this land. Good thing, we white people came in and taught these brown people to act properly and be civilized. (Roughly grabbing Tommyâs arm.)
Officer Joseph
I did hear on the radio about two young boys that ran away from the Norman Residential School. But that is almost 100 kilometers that way. (Points into the northeast direction) They sure made it far just on foot. Smart little boys if you ask me!
Officer Smith
(Yelling) No one is asking you! Savages donât know how to be smart. They are all dumb Indians who need us to show them how to live properly. (Flicking Samuelâs nose.)
Officer Joseph
What are your names? (Asking Tommy since he is the bigger of the two.)
Tommy
(Proudly) My name is Osâwisip! And he is called Waskahikan PÎwâyisis!
Officer Smith
Osâwisip? And Waskahikan PÎwâyisis? (Snorting in amusement) Those are the dumbest names I have ever heard! (Sternly) I mean what are your Christian names?
Tommy
Thomas and he is Samuel.
Officer Joseph
Where did you come from?
The boys just look at each other and point towards the north.
Officer Joseph
Well, Iâm sorry boys but we have to take you back to that residential school in case you are the children missing. I am sure they are worried sick about you guys. Donât worry we will get you there safe and sound. (Motioning for the boys to jump in the back of their squad car.)
Officer Smith
What do you mean you are sorry? (Looking at Officer Joseph in disarray.) They are just savages. Stop being so nice to them. Itâs not like they matter. (Looking at the boys meanly) Now get the fuck in the car so we can take you back to school!
The boys are pushed into the police squad car by Officer Smith as Officer Joseph walks to the driver side of the car. The boys, feeling defeated, hang their heads in depression and get escorted back to the Norman Indian Residential School.
End of Scene Seven
Scene Eight
The officers pull up to the entrance of the Norman Indian Residential School. Father Jack and Sister Marie, are standing by the gate. Officer Smith roughly grabs Tommy and Samuel out of the back seat and drag them over to Father Jack and Sister Marie.
Father Jack
Thank God! Thank you, officers, for returning our two students. We were very worried about them especially in this fall weather. The safety of our students is so important to us.
Tommy and Samuel look at each other baffled by the priestâs statement. Tommy looks down at the floor and sighs. Samuel looks over at Tommy and copies. Their slight glimpse of hope was not completely gone.
Officer Joseph
Of course, Father! We are happy to help. Smart boys you got here. We found them almost 100 kilometers away from here.
Officer Smith
More like ungrateful little savages. (Looking at the boys with disgust.) You give them a roof over their head, food to eat, a place to worship God and they run off like the little savages they are. I hope you discipline them Father! God knows they deserve it!
Sister Marie
Donât worry officer. We believe here at the Norman Indian Residential School that children must be disciplined for any actions that go against our faith and our generosity. (Staring at the boys callously.) Donât worry, they will learn.
Officer Smith/Officer Joseph
Have a great day Father! Good luck!
The officers jump in their squad car and drive away. Father Jack and Sister Marie each have a grip on Tommy and Samuelâs earlobe. The boys look completely defeated as they are dragged inside the school.
End of Play
The Playwrightâs Bio:
Alicia Stensgard is a Cree woman born in Thompson, MB. She lived most of her life in Fargo, North Dakota in the USA. Over a decade ago, Alicia moved back to her familyâs community of South Indian Lake to reconnect with her Indigenous culture and family. She just graduated from Brandon University with her Bachelor of Education degree in May 2022. Majoring in Native Studies and minoring in Sociology has given Alicia the tools and resources to provide a perspective approach to her teaching philosophy and give Indigenous and non-Indigenous students the best education possible. Alicia is currently working as a substitute teacher within the Brandon School Division. She has one son who will begin his school life this upcoming year.
Alicia was inspired to write about Residential Schools in Canada as she is the daughter, granddaughter, and niece to many Residential school survivors. Hearing stories from her motherâs experiences and other family membersâ experiences has led her to passionately research other Indigenous experiences and add to the Canada-wide conversation about truth and reconciliation for Indigenous peoples of Canada.
Instructorâs Remarks: Alicia Stensgard took Contemporary Canadian Aboriginal Literature 2: Poetry and Drama (ANS 2020) in UCN before she went to Brandon University to complete her education degree. In addition to three academic papers as assignments for that course, students were encouraged to do a creative project and put on a play. Aliciaâs project is a one-act play âResidential School Daysâ, which is based on the stories she heard about and her research on Residential Schools in Canada. (Dr. Ying Kong)
They Came for the Children by Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
http://www.myrobust.com/websites/trcinstitution/index.php?p=9