Shingwauk Centre receives Canadian Heritage funding

Canadian Heritage has provided $261,500 in grant funding to the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre housed at Algoma University for Shingwauk Auditorium technology upgrades and the creation of audio guides for the historic Shingwauk site.

"This funding supports the work of the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre, Algoma University, and the Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association to share the history of the Shingwauk Residential School in ways that are accessible, truthful, and honour the work of Survivors," says a news release issued by Algoma University.

Full text of the release follows:

The Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre (SRSC) is pleased to receive $261,500 in grant funding from Canadian Heritage. This funding includes $80,000 from the Canada Cultural Spaces to support technology enhancements of the Shingwauk Auditorium as part of the Reclaiming Shingwauk Hall exhibition project. It also includes $181,500 from the Digital Access to Heritage stream of the Museums Assistance Program. This Digital Access funding will be used to create audio guides for the historic Shingwauk site.

The technology additions to the Shingwauk Auditorium funded under this project are part of a larger initiative to expand the survior-led Reclaiming Shingwauk Hall exhibition. The auditorium portion of the exhibition is an art-based, participatory space which will teach visitors about Indigenous resilience, the impacts of colonialism, and the ongoing advocacy work of residential school survivors, led by the Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association (CSAA).

Additionally, the audio guides funded by the Digital Access to Heritage stream will enhance the capacity of the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre to offer self-guided tours of the historic Shingwauk Site and to further incorporate survivor narratives into tour programming.

This funding supports the work of the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre, Algoma University, and the Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association to share the history of the Shingwauk Residential School in ways that are accessible, truthful, and honour the work of Survivors. Both projects support the use of technology on the Shingwauk site and aim to create immersive technological interventions to support visitors learning about residential schools, healing, and reconciliation.

Quotes:

“As I think back on how long the survivors of the Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association has worked in partnership with the Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre in telling the story of Indian residential schools, they have literally educated thousands and helped others on their healing journey. It pleases me greatly that the generous grant from Canadian Heritage will help ensure that this story remains for future generations and the countless volunteer hours of our survivors will not go in vain. The SRSC has done such amazing work and the CSAA is truly grateful for that.” - Jay Jones, acting president, Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association

“We are pleased with the support of the Canadian Heritage Funding that allows for the ongoing development of resources to tell the important stories of Indian residential school survivors from their voices. The new resources will be a significant addition to the Reclamation of Shingwauk Hall initiative and the self-guided tours will allow visitors to the site to take time to learn about this time in Canadian history, the impacts of residential schools and Indian policy and what we can do to move toward healing and reconciliation.” - Mary Wabano-McKay, vice president Nyaagaaniid Anishinaabe Initiatives Equity Student Success, Algoma University

"Advancing and achieving reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples is an essential commitment for our government. I am very proud our investment will help the Shingwauk Residential School Centre Enhance their exhibition space and digitize multilingual content, providing an immersive experience to visitors and allowing wider access to the public online.” - Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Canadian Heritage

“The Federal government continues to recognize the important work being done at Algoma University and the SRSC with this $261,500 grant from Canadian Heritage. Creating and maintaining spaces like this for Indigenous expression and storytelling are integral to advancing reconciliation in our community and preserving history for future generations. Today's announcement brings the total investment from Canadian Heritage to Algoma University to over $1,175,000 since 2015.” - Terry Sheehan, Member of Parliament and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour