What role did the Ursuline nuns play in Indigenous education?

• A. They educated Indigenous girls in the Catholic faith, expecting them to board at the school
• B. They trained Indigenous men in crafts
• C. They managed fur trading posts
• D. They led explorations to the interior

Answer: (A)

Ursuline nuns primarily served as educators for Indigenous girls, teaching them the Catholic faith and basic literacy within boarding schools. In colonial Canada, these nun-run schools were part of mission work that aimed to convert and educate Indigenous youth, offering structured religious instruction and schooling with boarders living at the school. The other options—training Indigenous men in crafts, managing fur trading posts, or leading explorations—were not part of the Ursulines’ role, as those tasks were carried out by other groups or individuals in the colonial system.