Algoma University is partnering with the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre at UBC to increase access to information about the history of Residential Schools. “By leveraging the strengths of our organizations, this partnership will further our commitment to sharing and teaching about the history of Residential Schools.” ,” shared SRSC Researcher/Curator Krista McCraken.

The Shingwauk Indian Residential School was first established in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario in1873 as a residential school for Indigenous children. The school closed in 1970, and shortly after Algoma University relocated to the site. The Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association, and the Shingwauk Project, which included Survivors, their families, and community members, formed a movement to educate the public and document this important history. The group gathered documents and photos, conducted research and more, leading to the eventual establishment of the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre (SRSC).

The SRSC’s records gathering process and engagement with the community predates the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) process, which ran from 2009 to 2015. Records and research about residential schools and day schools are often held in various government, church, regional, local and university archives, making them difficult to access. By partnering with the SRSC, the Centre will broaden access to a broader range of records related to residential schools and day schools across Canada.