The Shingwauk Indian Residential School opened in 1873 as a residential school for First Nations' children. It operated as a residential school until 1970. The building and institution, located at 1520 Queen St. East. is one of the oldest landmarks of Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Canada. Chief Shingwauk, the Chief of the Ojibways at Garden River, believed that the future Ojibway needed to learn the white man's academic method of education in order to survive in what was becoming a "predominately non-native world with non-native values". His dream was to have an educational centre built for all future Ojibway children. 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. Six days after completion, the school burned to the ground. Not giving in to misfortune another school was erected at the present site on Queen St. East. 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. Puller (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).
