Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre facts for kids

The Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre (SRSC) is a special place at Algoma University. It collects and keeps important items about the history of residential schools in Canada. These schools had a big impact on Indigenous communities. The Centre also focuses on healing and helping people understand this history.

The Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre is run by Algoma University and the Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association. It works closely with the Engracia de Jesus Matias Archives and Special Collections, which is also at Algoma University.

History of the Centre

The Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre grew from an earlier project called the Shingwauk Project.

The Shingwauk Project

The Shingwauk Project logo

The Shingwauk Project began in 1979. It was started by Algoma University professor Don Jackson and many local people. These included Lloyd Bannerman, Ron Boissoneau, and Dan Pine Sr., who was a survivor of a residential school. Many other former students of the Shingwauk and Wawanosh Indian Residential Schools also helped.

The Shingwauk Project was created to help people learn about different cultures. It aimed to recognize the history of residential schools. It also wanted to highlight the story of the Shingwauk Indian Residential School.

Since 1979, the Shingwauk Project has worked on many activities. These activities follow the idea of 'healing, sharing, and learning.' They have included holding reunions for residential school survivors. They also created history pamphlets and educational displays. The project offered tours of the Shingwauk site. It also started an archive, library, and heritage collections. These collections later became the foundation for the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre.

Starting the Archive

Collecting historical items for the Shingwauk Project began in 1981. This happened at the first Shingwauk reunion. Former students and staff of the Shingwauk Indian Residential School came back to the Shingwauk site. They shared their experiences. Many people brought documents and photos they wanted to share. This led to the start of an informal archive.

This effort by the community grew into the official archive of the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre. From 2010 to 2012, the Centre's archive became more professional. This included hiring special staff to manage the archives. They also started creating digital records. They began following Canadian rules for describing archive materials.

Directors of the Centre

• Don Jackson, 1979-2010
• Co-Directors Ken Hernden and Don Jackson, 2010-2012
• Jonathan Dewar, 2012-2016
• Co-Directors Ken Hernden and Don Jackson, 2016-2018
• Elizabeth Edgar-Wekamigad, 2018–2021
• Krista McCracken, 2021 (Interim Director)
• Nicole Nicholas-Bayer, 2022-2023 (Director of Mukwa Waakaa'igan)
• Joel Syrette, 2023-Present (Director of Makwa Waakaa'igan)

What the Centre Collects

The Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre holds many important historical items. These items are about residential schools across Canada. They also include materials from Indigenous organizations and artists. The Centre collects records from groups working on healing and reconciliation.

The archives contain administrative records from residential schools. They also have photographs, school newsletters, and church publications. There is staff mail, artifacts, and artwork. This artwork was created by students during and after their time at residential schools.

In September 2020, two important collections from the Centre were added to the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. These were the Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association and Shingwauk Reunion fonds. This means they are recognized as very important historical documents for the world.

Cross-Cultural Programs

The Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre offers programs that help people learn about different cultures. These programs include activities for elementary and high school students. They also offer training for professionals.

In 2018, the Centre started a partnership called Shifting Indigenous Frontline Tactics (SHIFT). This program works with the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service. It provides ongoing cultural training for police staff. In 2019, the SHIFT program was nominated for an award called the Sault Innovation Award.

The Centre's Logo

The Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre logo developed from the original Shingwauk Project logo. The image of a crane was chosen for the first logo. This is because Chief Shingwauk had a special connection to the crane. He was part of the crane clan, and the crane was his dodem (a symbol of his family group).

The Shingwauk Project logo was based on a painting called 'Rising Crane.' This painting was made for the Project. In 2011, a staff member named Michelle McMillan designed a new, modern version of the crane logo. This updated logo is still used by the Centre today.

Awards and Recognition

The Centre's work has received many awards. In 2013, the Archives Association of Ontario gave an award to the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre. Algoma University's Arthur A. Wishart Library also shared this award. In the same year, the archive won the Project of the Year award. This was from the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre.

In 2016, the Centre worked with the Archives of Ontario. They helped with an exhibit called "Family Ties: Ontario Turns 150." This exhibit included information about the Shingwauk family and the Shingwauk Residential School. The "Family Ties" exhibit later won an award in 2017 from the Ontario Museum Association.

In August 2018, the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre opened a new exhibit. It was called Reclaiming Shingwauk Hall. Researcher and curator Krista McCracken worked on this project. It was a partnership with Algoma University and the Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association. This exhibit tells the history of the Shingwauk Residential School site. It also shows the strength and spirit of residential school survivors. The Reclaiming Shingwauk Hall exhibit won the 2018 Ontario Historical Society Indigenous History award.

In 2019, the Reclaiming Shingwauk Hall exhibit was considered for a Governor General's History Award. In the same year, it won the Sault Innovation Award for Innovative Project of the Year. The Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre also received the Municipal Heritage Award from the City of Sault Ste. Marie.

In March 2020, the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre received the Leading Cultural Destination, Soft Power Best Cultural Organisation award. In 2023, the Reclaiming Shingwauk Hall exhibition was recognized with the Ontario Museum Association Award of Excellence in Exhibitions.