CALL NUMBER: T3869:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Missionaries in B.C. : Father Alex Morris RECORDED: [location unknown], 1980-07-30 SUMMARY: Father Alex Morris discusses: his early life -- born in Quebec in 1911 to a fisherman/stationary engineer; decision to go into the priesthood; always had this desire to go to sea, never realized this dream; wanted to be a missionary in Africa, but settled for a job working with the Natives in B.C.; came to Williams Lake, somewhat unhappily; going on a railroad trip through B.C. slightly changed his negative opinion of the province; in 1942, he began to go out on missions with Father Thomas from Williams Lake. Father Alex Morris on Father Thomas: first impressions; his warped use of the Durieu system, and Morris' rejection of it. Morris accompanied Father Thomas mainly to the Shuswap reserves. Problems he saw with Father Thomas' ways (Natives went right back to alcohol after Father Thomas left.) Discussion of native culture, the Durieu system. More on Father Alex Morris' experiences: on the missions until 1946; then he was asked to replace the principal of a Native school at Williams Lake; at this time, he was very dissatisfied with his job touring the reserves -- very close to quitting; complaints he heard from Native parents, before he took over at the school; school finances; understanding the ranch at the school; changes he made at the school -- ended the use of Native boys working at the ranch, ended half-days of school, implemented a more academic school program; parents just wanted children to learn enough English to read, write and be confirmed. CALL NUMBER: T3869:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Missionaries in B.C. : Father Alex Morris RECORDED: [location unknown], 1980-07-30 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Father Alex Morris: trappers; parents drinking, but still want children to know Catholic religion; he stopped practice of staff speaking French in front of Native children; he had good relations with the sisters; introduced music to the school; implementation of the public school program to the residential school; once he was in charge, the number of runaways dropped substantially; tried to bring in Native music; began to let girls and boys mix socially; building a swimming pool even though the government disapproved; started a program for priests in the teaching field to get their bachelors of education if they did not have it; sent Native children to Kamloops for high school -- high percentage passed all exams; discussion of the Chilcotin people; starting a girls' pipe band. TRACK 2: Father Alex Morris: more on the girls' pipe band and a misunderstanding over it; discussion of native culture -- criticisms he has heard of his methods; no regrets about his teaching style; more on native culture, particularly the Shuswap culture; Durieu system -- opposition to it, misunderstanding of native culture; native impressions of the Durieu system; relations between Natives and whites; Father Thomas' use of the Durieu system; Father Thomas' relationship with the Natives. More on the Durieu system and its use in B.C.

CALL NUMBER: T3716:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Interview with Father John Hennessy RECORDED: [location unknown], 1980-06-19 SUMMARY: In an interview with Margaret Whitehead, Father John Hennessy discusses: his background in Vancouver; why he went into the priesthood; going up to Williams Lake in 1935 to help Father Thomas; knew little about the Natives before he got up there; first impressions of Father Thomas; language problems; mixing with the Natives, being accepted by them; Natives both feared, and respected, Father Thomas; anecdote about the North Vancouver reserve; Father Thomas thought the big sins were drinking, gambling and eating meat on Friday; confessions; adultery; anecdote about Jimmy Tuleen (?); improvised court system used by Father Thomas and chief Charlie Boy; Father Thomas adopted the system to fit the needs of the Native people in this area; in 1936, Father Thomas and he divided the territory -- he got the north side of the Fraser; Father Thomas converted much of the Cariboo region; Father Thomas was always interested in morality of Natives; strong personality of Father Thomas- almost like a chief; examples of how Father Thomas would use psychology to convince Natives to convert (made them believe he had special powers); his feelings on sending the children to residential schools; Father Thomas' use of altar boys; difficult for him to go up to the Cariboo knowing nothing of Native traditions; Chilcotin refused to send their children to residential school for about 15 years; Father Thomas was not the biggest supporter of the Mission school; Father Thomas was always on the move; reason Father Thomas stayed in the area as priest for so long.;

CALL NUMBER: T3716:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Interview with Father John Hennessy RECORDED: [location unknown], 1980-06-19 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Father Hennessy discusses: Father Thomas' policies and opinions -- appointed church-chiefs over elected chiefs to police morality, dislike of Shamans, viewed Natives as savages; story about Anaham Lake and the Natives there; traveling in the Chilcotin by horse and buggy; Father Thomas' views on the future of the Native people; Williams Lake became a regional centre and this hasten the development of 'civilization' to the Native communities; story of the 1948 earthquake; Father Thomas never rebuked him for not following in Thomas' footsteps; he always preached in Chinook, even though he talked to the Natives in English; differences between Father Thomas and himself; Native routines made it hard for them to go to church every Sunday, even if a priest had been on every reserve; goal of school was to convert the children because parents were nomadic; some Natives believed Father Thomas was very rich; Father Thomas had some medical supplies with him at times; few doctors in the area; Father Thomas' use of medicinal herbs. TRACK 2: More on Father Thomas' customs and routines. What angered Father Thomas. Anecdote about a chief wrestling with Father Thomas. Liked children. Discussion of the Oblates and the Catholic ladder system. Hennessy was in Cariboo from 1935 to 1948 and little changed during this time period. Alcohol problems. Hennessy lived on the Redstone Reserve and taught school for five years. Medicine men drumming in the night. Anecdote about getting some old coins of value. Father Thomas' relationship with the white ranchers- kept the peace between them and the Natives. Anecdote about Mr. Norman. Father Thomas' disapproval of white men living with Native women. More on Father Thomas' life and experiences. Natives provided traveling priests with supplies. Anecdote about an American.;

CALL NUMBER: T3716:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Interview with Father John Hennessy RECORDED: [location unknown], 1980-06-19 SUMMARY: [No content summary available for this tape.];

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Memories of St. Joseph's Mission, Williams Lake, B.C. RECORDED: Alkali Lake (B.C.), 1979-06-06 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: In an interview with Margaret Whitehead, Lilly Squinahan shares memories of her time at St. Joseph's Mission: typical day; her knowledge of English; sewing own clothes; learning to cook; everything the school needed, they produced (for the most part); Brother Collins; spent nine years in school, but only went to grade 6 academically (ages 9 to 18). Had to leave school to make room for new students. She enjoyed school and believes other students did too. Religion at St. Joseph's. Some children ran away from the school -- workmen would have to go looking for them. Chilcotin children in the school. All her siblings went to St. Joseph's too. Her youngest brother used to run away. Trapping no longer practiced by many Natives. Parents did not come to visit often. Holidays were six weeks. TRACK 2: Lily Squinahan: On holidays, Father Thomas would sometimes come to the reserve -- he was very strict (no alcohol, no dancing). Discussion of other priests. Chief Samson. Chief and Father Thomas had a court-like system set up where people would pay fines and confess to wrongdoings. Little alcohol on the reserve in old days. Chief is no longer a hereditary position. Concluding remarks.

CALL NUMBER: T3533:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Reminiscences of a missionary sister in British Columbia RECORDED: [location unknown], 1979-05-30 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Sister Patricia of the Sisters of the Child Jesus recalls her life as a missionary in B.C.: her background in Ireland; her desire to become a nun; choosing the Sisters of the Child Jesus; journey over to Canada; landing in Quebec, memories of Montreal and Trois Rivieres; had no idea what to expect of the Natives; beginning her life in B.C. at Sechelt -- Father Lepage, helping the teachers, learning about the Natives; impressions of the Native children; going up to Williams Lake -- first impressions of the landscape up there, description of the school buildings at St. Joseph's when she arrived, mosquitoes in summer, very cold in winter; discussion of Fathers and Sisters at the Mission school when she first arrived; Native children at Mission school were harder to understand than the ones at Sechelt; mainly Shuswap, some Chilcotin, differences between the two groups; enjoyed her time at Williams Lake very much; roles of Sisters, Fathers, Brothers; she found the boys easier to teach than the girls. TRACK 2: Sister Patricia: boys were easier to please; Natives were very reserved at first; describes a typical school day; she believes that residential schools allowed Natives to keep own culture; when she was a teacher, students learned practical things -- cooking, baking, sawing wood, sewing; Natives were very good at art; children and staff were always busy -- chores and school left little free time, but recreation did occur in the evenings (not organized games, children used imagination); music in the school; difficult for parents to visit children; believes children were very happy; Sisters made retreat to Vancouver at Christmas; children forgot much of what they learned over the summer holidays; teaching the children English; the Chinook language; going to mass on Sundays. CALL NUMBER: T3533:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Reminiscences of a missionary sister in British Columbia RECORDED: [location unknown], 1979-05-30 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Sister Patricia of the Sisters of the Child Jesus recalls her life as a missionary in B.C.: mass was attended by white people in the surrounding area; description of Father Thomas, his duties, and his relationship with the Natives; Father Maillard was principal of the Mission school; ranch supported the school; received only a small salary; growth of school over the years; development of the Williams Lake area; arrival of the railway; run-away children; relationship with settlers in Williams Lake region; in later years, the school became more integrated with the white community; illnesses at the Mission school. CALL NUMBER: T3533:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Reminiscences of a missionary sister in British Columbia RECORDED: [location unknown], 1980-07-08 SUMMARY: [No content summary available for this tape.] NOTE: This tape (and interview) end with an abrupt cut-off.