St. Joseph's Indian Residential School
| St. Joseph's Indian Residential School | |
|---|---|
| Type | Organization |
| Founded | 1870 |
St. Joseph's Indian Residential School is a residential school that was located in Fort William First Nation’s traditional territory.[1]
In Anishinabek News
- June 2017: The institution was established in 1870 as The Orphan Asylum of Fort William before being relocated to the city in 1907. The school was moved from the Fort William community to avoid local conflicts regarding its placement near Mount McKay or Squaw Bay. The facility closed in 1964 and was demolished in 1966.[2]
- October 2018: The school was located in Thunder Bay and was mentioned by Tanya Talaga as part of the city's history.[3]
- June 2019: A memorial site was officially unveiled on June 5, 2019, at the former location of this institution in Thunder Bay. Survivors shared accounts of being separated from their families and the difficult conditions they faced while attending the school. The site is now occupied by Pope John Paul II School on Arthur Street.[4]
- June 2021: A Sacred Fire was lit on May 31, 2021, at the former site of this institution. The school was located in Thunder Bay.[5]
- July 2021: Fort William First Nation is demanding that the federal government identify and return the remains of children from this site. The school is identified as a location where known or suspected burial sites require investigation.[6]
- October 2021: The school was formerly located on Arthur Street, approximately half a block from Vickers Park.[7]
- March 2025: A gathering for survivors of this institution was held in Thunder Bay from March 4-6, 2025. Percy Onabigon was admitted to this school at age eight before being transferred to medical institutions. The St. Joseph's Indian Residential School Survivors Council works to support those who attended the facility.[8]
- June 2025: The school was the focus of a local survivor project that organized a commemorative gathering in May 2025. A cedar sculpture featuring the faces of four children and an image of the school building was created to honour those who attended the institution. Many survivors from Fort William First Nation attended the school.[9]
- June 2026: The institution opened in 1870 at the original Mission Village on the Kaministiquia River before moving into Thunder Bay. The school operated for one hundred years until its closure in 1970. The legacy of the school affected many families from Fort William First Nation across multiple generations.[10]
- July 2026: Desiree Morriseau-Shields acknowledged the presence of the school and its survivors during the Indigenous Survivors Day gathering.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Thunder Bay marks Indigenous Survivors Day with Sixties Scoop exhibit", Anishinabek News, 9 July 2026 (archived copy; original article).
- ↑ "Residential School history displayed at Fort William City Hall", Anishinabek News, 5 June 2017 (archived copy; original article).
- ↑ "Seven Fallen Feathers author kicks off CBC Massey Lectures Tour", Anishinabek News, 24 October 2018 (archived copy; original article).
- ↑ "Unveiling of residential school memorial site a ‘sad and happy occasion’", Anishinabek News, 24 June 2019 (archived copy; original article).
- ↑ "Fort William First Nation and Nishnawbe Aski Nation honour the 215 children found at former Kamloops Indian Residential School", Anishinabek News, 11 June 2021 (archived copy; original article).
- ↑ "Fort William First Nation leadership demands investigation into known and suspected burial sites at local former residential school", Anishinabek News, 1 July 2021 (archived copy; original article).
- ↑ "Fort William First Nation and Thunder Bay come together to honour Indian Residential School children and Survivors", Anishinabek News, 13 October 2021 (archived copy; original article).
- ↑ "St. Joseph’s Indian Residential School Survivors gathering brings together Survivors and support", Anishinabek News, 24 March 2025 (archived copy; original article).
- ↑ "Fort William First Nation honours Indian Residential School Survivors", Anishinabek News, 9 June 2025 (archived copy; original article).
- ↑ "Fort William First Nation honours Indian Residential School Survivors, their families, and those who never returned home", Anishinabek News, 4 June 2026 (archived copy; original article).