The Year Round

Although boys were directed by the strict schedules outlined by the Jesuit priests the priests themselves could not control the seasons.  Lead by the demands of spring, summer, winter and fall workloads the priests made the appropriate arrangements to plant, sow, can and store the vegetables grown and cared for by the boys.  Each season meant a different set of rules and expectations with each passing season marking off one less season to be held as an ‘inmate’.
  

Marketing Indian Residential Schools

 

Some boys started their experience at residential schools at the tender age of three.  The government demanded that they stay until the age of sixteen unless other arrangements were made between the child’s family, Indian agents, and school administrators.  Excitement filled the dorm when a student received notice of their final months at the school.  The mood quickly changed to melancholy as boys would begin to realize that they had many years left at the school.  An occasional letter fell into the hands of the students during the passing of the seasons.  Letters from their families brought stories of hardship and happiness while other letters, penned by Indian agents or local priests, informed a student that their parents had passed or separated and the school officials would now serve in the child’s best interest until things were resolved or a relative could be found to care for them when they were of age to be released.  A roller-coaster of emotions followed as swiftly as the change in weather but the boys found ways to make the best of what they were handed.



With each season came the opportunity to engage in outdoor activities such as baseball and hockey.  Some seasons even led to more sly behaviors from the boys.  Winter drew some boys, who dared, to the schools attic to plan for tricks they would play on the priests and other students.  Summer enticed the boys to sneak out of the doors and enjoy an occasional conversation and smoke on the roof of the chicken coop.  Fall harvest meant that there would be food for the pickings in the storage sheds and spring meant trips to local towns to purchase supplies for the school.  The opportunity to go into town opened up the possibilities to see the local girls.   Time stood still for some boys, for others time could not go faster but nonetheless they could rely on the seasonal turns and their hopes of going home.