Reclaiming Shingwauk Hall: Award recognizes 'very moving' exhibit at Algoma U

The Reclaiming Shingwauk Hall exhibit at Algoma University, along with the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre, has been recognized with the 2023 Ontario Museum Association Award of Excellence in Exhibitions.

The exhibit is the first major, permanent Residential School Survivor-driven exhibition in a former Residential School building.

“When you think of the beginning of this work by the Survivors that started over 30 years ago, this is part of their dream,” said Jay Jones, president of the Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association (CSAA), in a news release. “Seeing their stories on the walls of the very school that took them is very moving. To see the difference they have made and the lives they have changed, I am humbled to be a part of it. So, I say chi miigwetch/thank you to those Survivors who have made this possible and to the partnership with Algoma University and the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre.”

Following is a full release from Algoma University on the announcement:

The Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre (SRSC) at Algoma University has been honoured with the prestigious 2023 Ontario Museum Association (OMA) Award of Excellence in Exhibitions for the world-famous exhibit, Reclaiming Shingwauk Hall. 

Reclaiming Shingwauk Hall is the first major, permanent Residential School Survivor-driven exhibition in a former Residential School building. It has transformed the hallways and former auditorium within Shingwauk Hall into an exhibition space. Reclaiming Shingwauk Hall presents the history of the Shingwauk Indian Industrial Residential Schools within the context of colonialism, truth-telling and healing. It’s a space built and curated by the Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association (CSAA), Residential School Survivors and First Nations.

“When you think of the beginning of this work by the Survivors that started over 30 years ago, this is part of their dream,” CSAA President Jay Jones shared. “Seeing their stories on the walls of the very school that took them is very moving. To see the difference they have made and the lives they have changed, I am humbled to be a part of it. So, I say chi miigwetch/thank you to those Survivors who have made this possible and to the partnership with Algoma University and the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre.”

This recognition highlights the SRSC’s significant contributions to preserving and sharing the history of Residential Schools in Canada. Reclaiming Shingwauk Hall is an example of Indigenous-led decolonised history practice. 

"This recognition celebrates the tenacity and unwavering dedication of the Children of Shingwuak Alumni Association,” shared Algoma University’s President and Vice-Chancellor Asima Vezina. “This exhibit showcases the resilience of those who endured the Shingwauk Indian Industrial Residential Schools. It is a testament to Indigenous-led decolonised history practice and Algoma’s commitment to preserving the legacy of Residential Schools in Canada. Chi miigwetch/thank you to the Survivors and the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre for all your hard work over the past years, and congratulations on receiving this prestigious and well-deserved award." 

To learn more about the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre, visit its website.