Nathan Matthew was the administrator of the Kamloops residential school starting in 1973 (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

NATHAN MATTHEW

Former administrator at Kamloops residential school says change started with First Nations pushing back in 1960s

Jun 9, 2021 | 4:24 PM

KAMLOOPS — Residential schools operated in Canada for more than 100 years with the last one closing in 1996.

During most of that time, they were run by the federal government, and by extension Christian churches.

However, by the 1960s — in the era of civil rights movement — things were starting to change for First Nations.

“There was a change in education policy with First Nations across the country and in the province,” said former administrator at the Kamloops residential school Nathan Matthew. “Instead of having First Nations students separated, they said they would integrate the students into public schools. That changed a whole lot of the process.”

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At the time, Matthew noted First Nations were pushing back and challenging the status quo. He says the chiefs in the Thompson region who were forced to send children to the Kamloops residential school got together and pushed for Indigenous leadership at the school.

Soon after, Matthew became the school’s administrator starting in 1973 when it was simply a residence for the students.

“The idea was to make the place more livable for the kids,” he said. “So we were able to make sure they had better food, better clothing, a lot of activities, and with a little more focus on culture.”

Matthew had heard the horror stories from his parents and family, all of whom attended the Kamloops Indian Residential School.

When he arrived as an administrator, students ate “mush,” while administrators had proper meals. He ensured everyone ate the same food.

“When I came there, the kids weren’t truly unhappy, but the conditions they lived when they showed up there from their communities, there was a lot of sadness. Kids were really lonely, obviously, away from their families and friends,” he said.

Nathan Matthew in 1974 when he was an administrator at the Kamloops Indian Residential School (Image Credit: Nathan Matthew)

Matthew also raised the expectation of students, noting they were put on modified programs when the school was run by the church.

“There had always been low expectations for First Nations kids,” he said. “The tendency to put them on modified, adaptive programs felt to be appropriate when we didn’t think so. Just make sure they get the right kind of support for these kids.”

The shift in First Nations education policy was the beginning of the end of residential schools. The Kamloops residential school officially closed down in 1978.

“I think across Canada, they were shutting down all about the same time. There was a very general uprising of ideas about First Nations control of everything — not just education, but the conditions on the reserve, housing, economic development, social development.”

Matthew says while conditions have improved dramatically for First Nations since the closure of residential schools, there’s a long way to go.