Lejac Residential School was part of the Canadian residential school system and one of the 130 boarding schools for First Nations children that operated in Canada between 1874 and 1996. Operated by the Roman Catholic Church under contract with the government of Canada, construction was completed on January 17, 1922, succeeding the school opened in 1917 in Fort Saint James. It was located in an otherwise undeveloped area on the shore of just East of Fraser Lake, just off the railway line. The location was about 10 km from the Indian village of Stellako at the West end of the lake (within Stellat'en First Nation territory) and the village of Nadleh at the East end of the lake (within Nadleh Whut'en First Nation territory). Although there were a few lay employees, most of the staff belonged