Stirland Lake Indian Residential School (IRS) was located at Stirland Lake, approximately 30 miles southeast of Windigo Lake, in the District of Kenora. The IRS was in operation from 1971 - 1991 (20 years) and was initially to provide high school education for up to 20 Indian boys. The IRS became coed in September of 1986 and officially closed in June 1991.

Other names identifying the school include Stirland Lake School (1972) and Stirland Lake Student Residence (1978).

The Government of Canada was responsible for funding the school, which was managed and operated by the Northern Youth Programs, Inc., a branch of the Mennonite Northern Light Gospel Missions.

On December 29, 1971, the federal government signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Northern Youth Programs Inc. (NYP) to provide an education program for up to 20 Indian boys in grades 9 and 10 for the period October 15, 1971, to June 30, 1972. On January 11, 1982, the federal government signed a tuition agreement and addendum with the Northern Youth Programs to provide secondary school education, pupil maintenance, and unique cultural courses for 32 male Indian students for September 1, 1981, August 30, 1982. On May 26, 1983, the federal government signed a tuition agreement with the Northern Youth Programs and the Northern Nishnawbe Education Council to provide secondary education, pupil maintenance, and unique cultural courses for 57 Indian students from January 1 to December 31, 1983, for Stirland Lake IRS and Cristal Lake IRS. On November 22, 1984, the federal government signed a tuition agreement with the Northern Youth Programs and the Northern Nishnawbe Education Council to provide secondary education, pupil maintenance, and unique cultural courses for 58 Indian students from January 1 to December 31, 1985, for Stirland Lake IRS and Cristal Lake IRS.

Grades taught at the IRS included grade 9, high school (10, 11, 12), and lower grades for children of staff starting in 1977/78. Total student enrolment during its 20 years of operation was 611+, with no statistics for 1974/76. The enrolment had a low of 15 in the first year, 1971/71, and a high of 64 (an anomaly since enrolment did not surpass 40 in any other year) in 1986/87 with an overall average annual enrolment of 32 students.

Poplar Hill Indian Residential School (IRS) was located across the Berens River from the community of Poplar Hill about 120 km north of Red Lake from 1962 - 1989 (27 years). The school closed, as noted in the Mennonite Reporter, in the fall of 1989.

Other names identifying the school included Mennonite Mission School (1962), Poplar Hill Indian Residential School, Poplar Hill Residential School (1962 - 1969), and Poplar Hill Development School (1969 - 1989).

The Government of Canada was responsible for funding the school, which was managed and operated by the Mennonite Northern Light Gospel Mission from 1962 - 1989. On December 16, 1971, the federal government signed an agreement with the Northern Light Gospel Missions, Inc., for the provision of professional school services, including room and board for all students and monthly allowances for grade nine students. On January 12, 1973, the federal government signed an agreement with the Northern Light Gospel Missions, Inc., to provide professional school services and maintenance services. In 1979 and 1980, the federal government signed agreements with the Northern Light Gospel Mission to provide professional school services, including room and board for students. In 1981, an unsigned addendum to a Tuition Agreement between the federal government and the Northern Light Gospel Missions for the accommodation of fifty students at the Poplar Hill Development School notes that the Northern Nishnawbe Education Council was to approve special course outlines.

The grades taught at the IRS were primary (1, 2, 3), elementary (4, 5, 6), and junior high (7, 8, 9) with kindergarten/beginner from 1963 - 1969 and high school sporadically - 1974/75, 1979/80, 1981-1984. Student enrolment at the IRS ranged from 35 (1962/63) to 99 (1972/73), with total enrollment over 27 years reaching 1,594 students, an average of approximately 60 students annually.

Cristal Lake High School was an all-girls school located on Cristal Lake, approximately 600 km north of Thunder Bay, and was in operation from September 1976 - June 1986 (10 years).

The IRS was also known as Cristal Lake School.

The Government of Canada was responsible for funding the school and was managed and operated on behalf of the government by the Mennonite Church through the Northern Youth Program, Inc., a branch of the Mennonite Northern Light Gospel Missions.

Student enrolment at the IRS ranged between 15 in 1976/77 to 29 in 1985/86. Grades taught at the IRS were mainly high school (9, 10, 11, 12) except the last two years when other grades were taught to children of staff (kindergarten, 3, 5, 7).