Crowfoot

Crowfoot, St. Joseph’s IRS

1900-1968
Operated by Roman Catholic Church

Originally located at Blackfoot Crossing, the Crowfoot Indian Residential School officially opened as a boarding facility in 1900. The school continued at this site until 1909, when it moved to a location on the Blackfoot Reserve near Cluny, Alberta. At the time the school moved, 22 of the 29 students there were suffering from tuberculosis.

The Catholic mission cemetery at Blackfoot Crossing was located near Crowfoot’s grave. In 1927 the mission cemetery was extended to include the graves of Three Bulls and Crowfoot. Correspondence in 1945 indicated that the cemetery was “untidy.”

Records suggest that there was a cemetery connected with the second school location, “Trés Sancte Trinité” at least by 1922.

It is possible that some students may also have been buried in what appears to be a disused cemetery on the west side of Cluny called Qullettville RC Cemetery.

Click each image below for a larger view.

Cliquez sur chaque image pour l’agrandir.

Location One:
Qullettville RC Cemetery

 

Location Two:
St. Mary’s Catholic Church

 

Location Three:
Near Crowfoot’s Grave
Extract from: Google Earth 50°48’5.83″N 112°51’59.78″W

 

Location Three:
Near Crowfoot’s Grave
Extract from: Google Earth 50°48’5.83″N 112°51’59.78″W

 

Location Three:
Near Crowfoot’s Grave
The Blackfoot Crossing Catholic cemetery is located in the vicinity of Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park, adjacent to Crowfoot’s grave. Extract from: Google Earth 50°46’56.23″N 112°50’44.09″W

 

Location Three:
Near Crowfoot’s Grave
Site of the Indian Agency buildings and an earlier schoolhouse at Blackfoot Crossing. The Catholic mission was located in this area. Extract from: Natural Resources Canada, Trail from Black Foot Crossing to W Bdy on N Side of Bow River, 1888, 716 CLSR AB. https://clss.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/clss/plan/detail?id=716%20CLSR%20AB

 

Location Three:
Near Crowfoot’s Grave
Site of the Indian Agency buildings and schoolhouse at Blackfoot Crossing. Extract from: Natural Resources Canada, Trail from Black Foot Crossing to W Bdy on N Side of Bow River, 1888, 716 CLSR AB. https://clss.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/clss/plan/detail?id=716%20CLSR%20AB

 

Location Three:
Near Crowfoot’s Grave
Extract from a map with annotations showing the “RC Day School” that preceded the Residential School at this location. Library and Archives Canada, Blackfoot Agency – Crowfoot Roman Catholic Boarding School – Establishment & Administration, RG10, Volume 6348, File 752-1, part 1. https://archive.org/details/School_Files_Series-RG10_c-8705/page/n215/mode/2up?q=crowfoot

 

Location Three:
Near Crowfoot’s Grave
Close up from an extract from a map with annotations showing the “RC Day School” that preceded the Residential School at this location. Library and Archives Canada, Blackfoot Agency – Crowfoot Roman Catholic Boarding School – Establishment & Administration, RG10, Volume 6348, File 752-1, part 1. https://archive.org/details/School_Files_Series-RG10_c-8705/page/n215/mode/2up?q=crowfoot

 

Location Three:
Near Crowfoot’s Grave
Map showing the location of Crowfoot’s grave, which was adjacent to the mission cemetery until the cemetery boundaries were extended to include his grave. Extract from: Library and Archives Canada, Blackfoot Agency – Surrender of Part of Blackfoot Reserve to Erect a Memorial Commemorating the Signing of Treaty No. 7 (Blueprints), RG10, Volume 4093, File 600182. https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?app=fonandcol&IdNumber=2060742&q=BLACKFOOT

A Reported location of Qullettville RC Cemetery
B St. Mary’s Catholic Church location

 

C Streetview image of St. Mary’s Church

 

Location Four:
Near Cluny
2012 satellite image showing cemetery. Extract from Google Earth 50°49’53.23″N 112°53’12.91″W

 

Location Four:
Near Cluny
Longer view of 2012 satellite image showing cemetery. Extract from Google Earth 50°49’53.23″N 112°53’12.91″W

 

Location Four:
Near Cluny
Aerial image showing school grounds and buildings. Extract from: Natural Resources Canada, Cluny, NW1/4,S.32,T.21,R.21,W4M. 4/7, 1982. https://clss.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/clss/plan/detail/id/1230+RSA+AB

 

Location Four:
Near Cluny
Aerial image showing cemetery left of centre in this image. Extract from: Natural Resources Canada, Cluny, NW1/4,S.32,T.21,R.21,W4M. 4/7, 1982. https://clss.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/clss/plan/detail/id/1230+RSA+AB

Additional Resources

Ressources supplémentaires