The residential school system began running in Canada in 1884 and caused sever inter-generational trauma to Indigenous peoples who were cut off from their culture and families, and often subject to abuse and atrocious living arrangements. Prior to 1919, the government could only legally send Indigenous children to a residential school if a day school was provided and they did not attend. This meant, of course, that if they did not build a day school the children would be forced to attend a residential school. The amendments in 1919 gave “the department control and remove from the Indian parent the responsibility for the care and education of his child, and the best interests of the Indians are promoted and fully protected.”[1] This applied to every Indigenous child in Canada between the ages of seven and fifteen. On Vancouver Island, there were both day schools and residential schools, some of which are listed below.
| Name | Location | Opened | Closed | Denomination |
| Ahousaht Indian Residential School | Ahousaht | 1901 | 1950 | Presbyterian |
| Alberni Indian Residential School | Port Alberni | 1920 | 1973 | United Church |
| Christie Indian Residential School | Tofino | 1900 | 1973 | Roman Catholic |
| New Christie Indian Residential School/Kakawis Indian Residential School | Tofino | 1974 | 1983 | Roman Catholic |
| St. Michael’s Indian Residential School (Alert Bay Indian Residential School) | Alert Bay | 1929 | 1975 | Anglican |
| Yuquot Indian Residential School | Yuquot | 1901 | 1913 | Roman Catholic |
[1] Department of Indian Affairs. Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended March 31 1920. 1 George V Sessional Paper No. 27 ed. Printed by Order of Parliament Ottawa, J. De Labroquerie Tache Printer to the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, 1921. Page 14.