McIntosh Memorial/Rotary Meeting Screenshot
Lillian Berg School’s Canadian Heritage Grant, in partnership with the Municipality of Machin, is being put to good use to maintain the McIntosh Indian Residential School Memorial Site.
Grade 7/8 Teacher Shannon Elliot talked about their grant approval and her class’ continued efforts towards reconciliation with the Rotary Club of Dryden during their virtual meeting Wednesday.
Elliot explains it was after her class first visited the site in the fall of 2019 when they decided to take action and apply for the 6 thousand dollar grant.
“We noticed some litter and larger items that had been dumped in the bush and we also noticed how much the grass had grown up around the monument. Many students were saddened by the overgrown grass around the monument, benches and tables. Their words were, they thought the site deserved more care and respect.”
Lillian Berg Grade 7/8 Teacher Shannon Elliot/Rotary Screenshot
After receiving grant approval in October 2020, now it’s a different story as Elliot continues “the workers from the Municipality of Machin were out to the site last week, to do the grass cutting and clear that area. They took it upon themselves, there were some granite pieces that had been knocked over, some had cracks and the workers went to get some granite cement from Nelson Granite and fix those. So, it’s really nice to see all different people from the community stepping in and helping.”
Additional funds were also requested for books for the school to help teach students from Kindergarten to Grade 8 and any interested community members about the ongoing impacts of residential schools in Canada.
Elliot adds her class hopes to go back to the site to rake, pick up any litter and possibly plant trees in the fall.
“We also welcome in kind or monetary donations. Support is needed to cover the cost of rental equipment to cut the long grass, gravel for the path, bussing for students to get there and back, repairs to some of the granite tables-some have more major repairs that couldn’t be repaired last week and landscaping plants.”
Students will also be creating and distributing pamphlets about the history of McIntosh, with hopes to host an Orange Shirt Day ceremony at McIntosh this October for Lillian Berg Staff and students, Grassy Narrows and Eagle Lake First Nation community members, COVID-19 dependent.
In the meantime, students are look forward to learning more through continued virtual discussions with Chief Randy Fobister of Grassy Narrows First Nation, Grand Council Treaty Three and a former McIntosh student.
To make a donation, you can contact Lillian Berg School.
Student’s first visit to the site in 2019/Rotary Screenshot
Other Efforts And Background
The McIntosh Indian Residential School Memorial Site is located 30 kilometres northwest of Vermillion Bay and was in operation from March 1925 to June 1969.
Canadian Heritage Grants are used to increase awareness, commemorate history of residential schools and honour survivors.
Lillian Berg School is a ‘Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund Legacy School’ and Grade 7/8 students completed their ‘Walk For Wenjack’ in October 2020, walking over 8 hours from the memorial site back to the school.
The walk honours the memory of Chanie Wenjack, an Anishnaabe boy who ran away Cecilia Jeffery Indian Residential School in Kenora and succumbed to the elements trying to walk 600 kilometres home to his family.
Grade 7/8 Students Walk For Wenjack October 2020/Rotary Screenshot
