Welcome to Wiikwogaming Tiinahtiisiiwin, a collaborative effort to shed light on the dark history of the McIntosh Residential School. We aim to bring healing to former McIntosh students and their communities. We also aim to bring recognition and justice for students who never made it home. Our project is guided by our vision, mission, and goals, with the purpose of righting past wrong and creating a more just and equitable future for First Nation peoples.
Our Vision...
Our Mission...
Our Goals...
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To create world where the legacy of residential schools is fully acknowledged, and healing and reconciliation are ongoing processes
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To search for and find all the missing and unidentified children
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To remember, respect and never forget the lost children
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To acknowledge and support through a trauma-informed approach
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To make the world aware of the genocide and never allow history to repeat itself
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To provide support to survivors and their families, engaging in community-led research, and raising awareness about the ongoing impacts of residential schools
At the heart of our project are the stories of former students of the McIntosh IRS and their families. We aim to collect and share the stories of former students who we know as Ogichidaa/Ogichidaakwe (Warriors) for their strength and bravery. We also recognize the intergenerational impacts of residential schools and the importance of listening to all generations.
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Our research is grounded in community-led efforts to commemorate the students who are
buried in unmarked graves at the McIntosh site. We conduct research interviews, gather
archival footage, and engage in ongoing investigations to uncover the truth about what
happened at the school. We are committed to ensuring that the children buried at the site are
properly honored and remembered.
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About Us
Wiikwogaming Tiinahtiisiiwin was started is an initiative by Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek (Grassy Narrows First Nation). We are a small community in Northwestern Ontario with a strong historical connection to Wiikwogaming, our name for McIntosh. Many of our children atttended McIntosh Indian Residential School. But before that, Wiikwogaming was part of an area where we lived, fished and hunted as part of our pre-European nomadic lifestyle.
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When we heard about the findings of 215 unmarked graves at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in May of 2021, our thoughts immediately went to the McIntosh IRS and the stories we have heard and shared over the years of children who never returned to their communities, and burial sites that were known to exist but were unmarked. In response, we took steps to begin the long and arduous journey of locating and mapping unmarked burials and missing children at Wiikwogaming. In January 2023, Grand Council Treaty #3 passed a resolution acknowledging our First Nation as the lead community to undertake this work.
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As the lead community, our commitment is to undertake this search under the guidance and supervision of survivors of the McIntosh IRS, from Grassy Narrows and other First Nations. Our aim is to provide opportunities for all former McIntosh students alive today to participate in this journey at their own pace and comfort, whether that is by taking a more active role, participating in ceremonies and meetings, or just receiving regular updates on our progress.
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As part of Wiikwogaming Tiinahtiisiiwin, we are leading an initiative to locate and identify the unmarked graves of children who died while attending the McIntosh Residential School. We will use forensic methods, archival research, and interviews with survivors to reclaim the identities of these children.
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At Wiikwogaming Tiinahtiisiiwin, we are dedicated to conducting research in a respectful and ethical way. We want to restore the dignity of the children who passed away through commemoration or repatriation. We believe a community-led approach is essential to ensure survivors' and families' voices are heard and respected.
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We are also focused on implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action. This includes accessing funding for community health, trauma support, community-based research, and creating a centralized cemetery registry. We believe these actions are crucial to honouring the memory of the children who died at the McIntosh Residential School, and will contribute to a more just society for Indigenous people in Canada.
History of the McIntosh Residential School Site:
The McIntosh Residential School began construction in 1924. In May 1925, Father Brouillet arrived from Grassy Narrows with the first 20 children. By 1927, the school had between 100 and 125 students. A day-school was built on the property in 1959. When the main school building burned down in 1965, all operations were moved to the day-school. As that school did not have the capacity to accommodate all students, two-thirds of the students were shipped away to other schools. The school remained in operation until 1969, when it was permanently closed. At that time, concerns had been raised that inadequate water supply was leading to a spread of intestinal diseases. Throughout the life of the school, it was plagued by poor living conditions due to over crowding and an inadequate water supply system.
The construction of the school was funded by the Indian Department but the school itself was operated by the Roman Catholic Church and was one of the many residential schools established across Canada as part of a government-led effort to assimilate Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian culture.
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The school was known for its harsh conditions and strict discipline. Children were forced to speak English, wear European-style clothing, and follow the Catholic teachings. The school was also well known for its poor living conditions, with many children suffering from malnutrition and disease.
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In recent years, the discovery of unmarked graves at the site has brought renewed attention to the history of the McIntosh Residential School. We are committed to uncovering the truth about what happened at the school and ensuring that the children who are buried there are properly honoured and remembered.
Our Stories
History of the People in the Community of Asubpeeschoseewagong (Grassy Narrows) First Nation:
The community of Grassy Narrows is located on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe people, specifically the Asubpeeschoseewagong (Grassy Narrows) First Nation. The history of the people in this community is rich and complex, spanning thousands of years.
Long before the arrival of European settlers, the Anishinaabe people lived in harmony with the land and waterways of the region. They had a deep spiritual connection to the natural world and relied on hunting, fishing, and gathering for their sustenance.
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In the 1800s, the arrival of fur traders and missionaries began to change the way of life of the Anishinaabe people. Many were forced to adapt to a new way of life, and the arrival of residential schools in the early 1900s only added to the disruption.
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Despite these challenges, the people of Grassy Narrows have maintained a strong connection to their culture and traditions. They have a rich history of art and craftsmanship, including beadwork, quillwork, and birch bark basketry. They also have a deep connection to the land and waterways, and many continue to rely on hunting, fishing, and gathering for their livelihoods.
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The history of the people in the community of Grassy is one of resilience and strength in the face of adversity. Despite the impacts of colonialism, they have maintained their cultural traditions and continue to work towards a better future for themselves and future generations.
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We now must recognize the ongoing impact of residential schools on families and communities, even
for those who did not attend the schools themselves.
― Our Warriors
For more information on ongoing unmarked graves investigations and research,