Item R00000109 - Quarterly Return

Fort Frances (St. Margaret’s) Indian Residential School (IRS) was located on the Couchiching Reserve on the southwest shore of Rainy Lake northeast of Fort Frances. The IRS was in operation from April 1, 1906 - September 30, 1974 (68 years).

Other names identifying the residential school include Fort Frances (Indian) Boarding School (1906 - 1922), Cootchiching Indian Boarding School (1925), Fort Frances (Indian) Residential School (1923 - 1968), St. Margaret’s Indian Residential School (1957), and Fort Frances Student Residence (1968 - 1974).

The Government of Canada was responsible for funding the school, which was managed and operated by the Roman Catholic Church through the Oblate Fathers of Mary Immaculate, then later the Oblate Indian and Eskimo Commission (INDIANESCOM) from 1906 - 1969. The Sisters of Charity, known as the Grey Nuns, were also involved from 1906 - 1974. On April 14, 1906, an agreement was signed between the Sisters of Charity and the Diocese of St. Boniface, represented by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, for the sisters to manage the Fort Frances IRS on behalf of the Diocese. On March 14, 1911, an agreement was signed between the federal government and the Oblate Archdiocese of St. Boniface for the operation of the IRS. In October 1950, the Oblate Fathers of Manitoba and the Grey Nuns of Montreal signed a contract to provide educational and administrative services at Fort Frances IRS. On September 25, 1962, an agreement was signed between the federal government and the Oblate Indian Eskimo Commission (INDIANESCOM) for the operation of the IRS. The federal government assumed responsibility for the direct operation of Fort Frances IRS on April 1, 1969.

On March 11, 1974, the federal government decided to close the IRS due to declining enrolment. Upon closure, students were to be transferred to the Cecilia Jeffrey IRS or placed in boarding homes in Kenora. Students attending the IRS came from Couchiching, Seine River, Black River, Manitou, Standjicoming (Stangecoming), Red Cut, Assabaska, Whitefish Bay, Naicathcewenin, Whitesand, Sabaskong, and Lac Seul. Grades taught at the IRS from the opening in 1905 to 1931 were primary (1, 2, 3) and elementary (4, 5, 6). Junior high school (7, 8, 9) classes started in 1931 and continued until at least 1968 with kindergarten/beginners included from 1959 to 19656. In 1970/71, only grades 1 - 3 were taught. No
information on grades taught is available for 1939/40, 1968-1970, nor 1971-1974. IRS students attended local schools in the town of Fort Frances in 1962 (5, 7, 8), 1962/63 (7, 8), 1963/64
(5, 7 - 10), and 1965/66 - 1967/68 (4 - 8). Student enrolment at the IRS ranged between a low of 33 in 1905/06 to a high of 152 in 1964/65. Total student enrolment at Fort Frances IRS for 68 years was 6,068+ (missing information for 1939/40).