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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: T3531:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Informal discussion on the subject of St. Joseph's Mission School, Williams Lake, B.C. RECORDED: Alkali Lake (B.C.), 1979-06-05 SUMMARY: Interviewees discuss their life at the Mission Indian Residential School. Many voices are heard, making it difficult to follow dialogue. TRACK 1: In this discussion, topics touched upon include: experiences at the Mission school; Sisters teaching at Mission; running away from the Mission; Father Aurore -- intelligent man; loss of the Native language; learning English; hard for parents to visit; Sisters Laura and Patricia were at Mission for many years; girls sewed clothing for themselves and for the boys' school; description of typical day. TRACK 2: Discussion of: Brother Collins; boys had to look after livestock; learning to cook; anecdote about making a fire at 3 am; ironing, washing clothes; mass every morning; relations between boys and girls were limited; teasing by the boys; story about one woman's wedding; visit of Bishop, confirmations; changes in Mission school layout.

CALL NUMBER: T3531:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Informal discussion on the subject of St. Joseph's Mission School, Williams Lake, B.C. RECORDED: Alkali Lake (B.C.), 1979-06-05 SUMMARY: Interviewees discuss their life at the Mission Indian Residential School. Many voices are heard making it difficult to follow dialogue. TRACK 1: Discussion of: train station near the Mission school; Indian graveyard rumours; years spent at the school; working for the Sisters in the summer; graduating, activities after graduation; games played; stories about other Natives in the community who went to the Mission school; boys were dressed as girls if they ran away; differences between lifestyle of Natives in the pre-war years, and now. (End of interview)

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.