ABOUT THIS PROJECT
THE WINAHWINIKEWIN PROJECT
There were three components to the Winahwinikewin Project.
1) Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Searches: Ground searches were conducted on the grounds that were used by the operators of the St. Joseph’s Residential School, in an area commonly known as Mission Point. Cross Lake partnered with Axiom Geomatics of Saskatoon, SK to conduct the GPR surveys, and three local individuals were trained to assist in the survey. The GPR search was conducted between the summer and winter of 2022-2023.
A report detailing anomalies has been released, but at this point, there are no plans to perform further forensic investigation.
2) Documentation: With the assistance of two local individuals, DAL Projects of Winnipeg, MB, assisted in developing a student registry and data management system with records obtained from historical archives and the National Center for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR). Over 1200 students from all over northern Manitoba ended up at St. Joseph’s during a 50-year period, as well as Cross Lake students having attended residential schools including St. Joseph’s, Assiniboine in Winnipeg, Lebret in Saskatchewan, and Guy Hill near The Pas, to name a few. The data has been handed over to the Indian Residential School Initiative in Cross Lake (April 2024) for future updating and management.
3) Memorial: Cross Lake would like to establish a memorial to honour and memorialize the lives of our children who were a part of this dark moment in Canada’s history. They may no longer be with us, but their stories will live on through this memorial. Funding from CIRNAC will be used to design a monument that will be community-chosen, and the site will be a solemn space for all generations to sit and reflect on the hardships that those before us have endured.
To immortalize the stories of those who have passed, the Winahwinikewin Project has set up this website to house all the information gathered since the project started, alongside scans of journals, photos, and videos gathered over the years. We want this information readily accessible so people can see and read about Cross Lake and its involuntary involvement with residential schools in the 1900s.
WINAHWINIKEWIN SEARCH PROJECT CONTRIBUTORS (2024)
Management/Coordination Support: Mr. Sandy Robinson, Project Director, and Mr. Ryan Castel, Executive Director of CLBOI.
Political Support: Chief David A. Monias, Councillor Donnie McKay, and Councillor Shirley Robinson.
Elder Support: Elders Daniel Ross, Roy Jones Scott, Andrina Blacksmith, Violet McKay, Gertie Richard, and Adelaide Colombe.
Research Support: Leisha Montegue and Erik Funk
GPR Support: Kirk McLeod, Kendall Robinson, and Orlin Cook
Memorial Monument Support: Mr. David Thomas, Architect (Peguis)
GPR Technical Support: Axiom Group of Saskatoon
Project Management/Documentation Support:
DAL Projects of Winnipeg
ABOUT THIS PROJECT
THE WINAHWINIKEWIN PROJECT
There were three components to the Winahwinikewin Project.
1) Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Searches: Ground searches were conducted on the grounds that were used by the operators of the St. Joseph’s Residential School, in an area commonly known as Mission Point. Cross Lake partnered with Axiom Geomatics of Saskatoon, SK to conduct the GPR surveys, and three local individuals were trained to assist in the survey. The GPR search was conducted between the summer and winter of 2022-2023.
A report detailing anomalies has been released, but at this point, there are no plans to perform further forensic investigation.
2) Documentation: With the assistance of two local individuals, DAL Projects of Winnipeg, MB, assisted in developing a student registry and data management system with records obtained from historical archives and the National Center for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR). Over 1200 students from all over northern Manitoba ended up at St. Joseph’s during a 50-year period, as well as Cross Lake students having attended residential schools including St. Joseph’s, Assiniboine in Winnipeg, Lebret in Saskatchewan, and Guy Hill near The Pas, to name a few. The data has been handed over to the Indian Residential School Initiative in Cross Lake (April 2024) for future updating and management.
3) Memorial: Cross Lake would like to establish a memorial to honour and memorialize the lives of our children who were a part of this dark moment in Canada’s history. They may no longer be with us, but their stories will live on through this memorial. Funding from CIRNAC will be used to design a monument that will be community-chosen, and the site will be a solemn space for all generations to sit and reflect on the hardships that those before us have endured.
To immortalize the stories of those who have passed, the Winahwinikewin Project has set up this website to house all the information gathered since the project started, alongside scans of journals, photos, and videos gathered over the years. We want this information readily accessible so people can see and read about Cross Lake and its involuntary involvement with residential schools in the 1900s.
WINAHWINIKEWIN SEARCH PROJECT CONTRIBUTORS (2024)
Management/Coordination Support: Mr. Sandy Robinson, Project Director, and Mr. Ryan Castel, Executive Director of CLBOI.
Political Support: Chief David A. Monias, Councillor Donnie McKay, and Councillor Shirley Robinson.
Elder Support: Elders Daniel Ross, Roy Jones Scott, Andrina Blacksmith, Violet McKay, Gertie Richard, and Adelaide Colombe.
Research Support: Leisha Montegue and Erik Funk
GPR Support: Kirk McLeod, Kendall Robinson, and Orlin Cook
Memorial Monument Support: Mr. David Thomas, Architect (Peguis)
GPR Technical Support: Axiom Group of Saskatoon
Project Management/Documentation Support:
DAL Projects of Winnipeg