Stories of Anishinaabe Resilience (SOAR) Project
The goal of the SOAR project is to increase awareness and commemorate the history and legacy of St. Joseph’s Residential School while also honouring residential school survivors, their families, and communities. This is a multi-faceted project.
The intent of the project is to increase awareness and commemorate the history and legacy of St. Joseph’s Residential School in Thunder Bay by making the truth about the residential schools widely accessible through a research report and a curriculum.
The SOAR project will also honour residential school survivors, their families and communities by permanently displaying artwork at the library and recording a podcast series to share their stories of resilience.
Research report: Stories of Anishinaabe Resilience
Written by: Sarah McPherson, HBa
A research assistant was hired to conduct research on the establishment, location and movement, policies and everyday goings-on, and the closure and tearing down of St. Joseph's Residential School, as well as testimonials and records of survivor experiences there. This research report includes archival resources held by the City of Thunder Bay, the Thunder Bay Museum, National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, Shingwauk Residential School, and Department of Indian/Aboriginal/Indigenous and Northern Affairs, as well as secondary source material online and at Lakehead University and Thunder Bay Public Libraries.
Secondary Level Education Curriculum
Developed by Johanna Mousseau-Krahn, BEd
A new unit plan focusing on the local St. Joseph's Residential School has been developed as part of the Thunder Bay Public Library's Stories of Anishinaabe Resilience (SOAR) Project.
The St. Joseph’s Residential School unit is cross curricular, and each lesson incorporates curriculum expectations from different curriculum between grades 9 and 12, including the First Nations, Metis, and Inuit Studies curriculum (2019), the English curriculum (2007), the Canadian World Studies curriculum (2018), the Arts curriculum (2010), and other curriculum that might not be explicitly addressed in the lesson plans.
The St. Joseph's Residential School Unit Plan comes complete with a Teacher's Guide, Student Workbook and Consolidation Card as well as corresponding powerpoint presentations. To access the curriculum package, contact Robyn Medicine, Community Hub Librarian - Indigenous Relationships Supervisor via email rmedicine@tbpl.ca or phone 684-6812.
Artwork:
Several painted art pieces have been or will be installed at Brodie and Waverley Resource Libraries. Each piece commemorates and honours the survivors of St. Joseph's Residential School.
About the artists:
Quill Christie-Peters is an Anishinaabe arts programmer and self-taught visual artist currently residing in Northwestern Ontario. Her mural, “despite it all, we are all they can never have” depicts the beauty, wholeness and complexity of who we are as Anishinaabeg, despite the violence we have endured through residential schools. Find this mural at the Waverley Library.
Rufus Moonias is an emerging Oji-Cree artist from Neskantaga First Nation. His mural entitled, “Resilience”, “represents the resiliency of survivors from residential schools, group homes, foster homes, hospitals, and/or jails. Many Indigenous people lost a part of their identity at these places. This painting spreads awareness for our surviving children who became elders.” Find this mural at the Brodie Library.
Brian Michon is Anishinaabe originally from Fort William First Nation, and raised in Geraldton, Ontario. Three painted portraits of St. Joseph’s Residential School survivors and an outdoor mural will be installed and unveiled at the Brodie Library. Stay tuned for details.
Podcast:
The most important piece of this project was connecting with residential school survivors and family members. Survivors of St. Joseph's Residential School open up about their personal experiences at the school known as the "boarding school". Listen to their personal accounts each month in the Stories of Anishinaabe Resilience (SOAR) Podcast.
Launch:
To be announced
Contact Robyn Medicine, Community Hub Librarian - Indigenous Relationships Supervisor at 684-6812 / rmedicine@tbpl.ca if you’d like more information.
Thank you to our partners & supporters:
ReImagining Value Action Lab (RiVAL)
Dr. Adar Charlton
Journalists for Human Rights
Fort William First Nation
City of Thunder Bay Indigenous Relations and Inclusion
Nishnawbe Aski Nation
Anishinabek Employment and Training Services
Ontario Regional Chief RoseAnne Archibald
Sol Mamakwa (MPP, Kiiwetinoong)
Michael Dick (CBC Thunder Bay)
Lakehead Public Schools
Thunder Bay Catholic Schools
This project is being funded by Canada Heritage for Commemorating the History and Legacy of Residential Schools
