Shingwaukonse, 1773-1854

Chief Shingwaukonse (1773-1854), also known as Chief Shingwauk and Little Pine, was a chief of the Garden River Ojibways. Shingwauk, was born south of Lake Superior and moved to Garden River Ontario in 1836. He rose to prominence fighting in the war of 1812.

In 1935, he converted to the Church of England, as did two of his sons, Augustine and Buhkwujjenene. However, Native beliefs continued to inform his life. Shingwaukonse traveled in 1832 to York to petition Sir John Colborne , lieutenant-governor of Upper Canada, for a school for his people.

From 1827-1854 he developed a new native rights and self-determination strategy which envisioned "Teaching Wigwams" throughout Anishnabek lands to provide an European style education. His vision was carried on by his sons, Augustin (1800-1890), Buhkwujjenene (1811-1900), John Askin (1863-1919), and George Menissino (1839-1923).

In his later years Shingwaukonse became a leading advocate of Native resource rights, including access to revenues from mining and logging on Aboriginal lands.

Georgia (Georgie) Kirkpatrick Wright (1903-1984) was born in Diligent River, near Parrsboro, Nova Scotia on September 18, 1903. Georgia graduated from Mount Allison University, in Sackville, New Brunswick. She taught at Shingwauk Indian Residential School from 1923-1926. In 1926 her father wrote a letter to the school, asking that she be excused from her duties and sent home to care for her mother, who was dying of cancer. She returned home immediately and her mother died a few months later.

On July 11, 1927 Georgia married Perley W. Wright, a pharmacist, and later, mayor, in Parrsboro. They had five children. Georgia was president of the local Red Cross for many years, during the Depression she worked to serve those impacted the hardest. Later, she devoted herself to helping soldiers who were fighting overseas in World War II. Georgia also wrote the occasional article for the Halifax Chronicle-Herald.

She and her husband had a house and a cottage in Parrsboro. Her husband died in 1965 and she died on February 14, 1984. The house is now owned by one of her grandsons. The cottage, on the shore of the Minas Basin of the Bay of Fundy is currently enjoyed by her five children, twenty-one grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren.

Georgina was always very proud of her Shingwauk photograph album. She always spoke fondly of the children she had taught there. Georgia was especially fond of one boy, Earnest Pine, who she thought of often after leaving Shingwauk. She is remembered as a kind, gracious woman, who always saw the decency in others.
Pictured above.

Chief Shingwauk (also known as Shingwaukonse) rose to prominence fighting in the war of 1812.  Between 1827 and 1854 he developed a strategy of Aboriginal rights and self-determination which envisaged a sharing of resources with European colonists and a synthesis of traditional Ojibway and European knowledge through 'Teaching Wigwams.' 

In 1832 Shingwauk traveled to York to petition Lieutenant Governor Colborne for teacher to bring European-style education to Garden River.  As a result of this petitioning a Rev. William McMurray was appointed as an Anglican missionary teacher and in 1833 the first schoolhouse was built at the top of Pim Hill in 1833.  Shingwauk passed away in 1854 but his vision was carried on by his sons Augustin (1800-1890), Buhkwujjenene (1811-1900), John Askin (1836-1919) and George Menissino (1839-1923).

In 1871 Rev. Edward Francis Wilson settled in Garden River and collaborated with Chiefs Augustin Shingwauk and Buhkwujjenene to raise funds in support of a school.   With the combined effort of Shingwauk's sons, Augustine and Buhgwujjenene, and Rev. E.F. Wilson, this dream came a reality. A school was built at Garden River in 1873. However six days after opening the school burned to the ground. Not giving in to misfortune another school was erected at the present site on Queen St. East in Sault Ste Marie in 1874. The cornerstone for the second Shingwauk Home was laid by the Earl of Dufferin, the Governor-General of Canada, in the summer of 1874. In August 1875, the new building was officially opened to fifty pupils.

Sixty years later, in 1935, a third building was erected directly behind the old one and the previous building was demolished. This new building was the home of the Shingwauk Residential School until its closure in 1970. It now houses Algoma University.

Principals of the Shingwauk Indian Residential School include: Rev. Edward Francis Wilson (1873-1892), Rev. James Irvine (1892-1894), James Lawler (1894-1985), George Ley King (1895-1906), Rev. Benjamin P. Fuller (1906-1929), Rev. C.F. Hives (1929-1941), Rev. Arthur E. Minchin (1941-1948), Rev. D.I. Wickenden (1948-1954), Rev. Roy Philips (1954-1966), David Lawson (1966-1967), Allan Wheatley (1967-1968), Rev. Noel Goater (1968-1970).