The Jesuit Residential School at Spanish: More Than Mere Talent.

The Jesuit Residential School at Spanish: More Than Mere Talent WRITTEN BY David F. Shanahan, Ph.D. PUBLISHED By Canadian Institute of Jesuit Studies, Anishinabe Spiritual Centre, Espanola, ON, ISBN: 0-9734558-3-7, Softcover, pp. 280, $30.00 CND 

The Jesuit Residential School at Spanish, Ontario, operated from 1913 until 1958. It replaced two chools at Wikwemikong, which were burned by malcontents. It received students from Manitoulin Island (Ojibway), from Kahnawake (Iroquois) and from places where Cree was spoken. The boys' school was taught by the priests and Brothers of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). The girls' school was taught by the Daughters of Mary. Owned by the religious communities, the schools followed the norms set by the Indian Department of the Government of Canada, i.e. they were to be vocational. The girls were to learn sewing, housework, dressmaking, knitting and cooking. Both groups learned English, mathematics and catechism. The purpose was to prepare them for life in the world which they inherited.

Although the children were wards of the government, and their education was its responsibility, this responsibility was neglected. The government merely supplied money for food, clothing, light and heat. In 1923-24 the Indian Department paid $129.31 per year per child, or $0.35 per day.

Health care was the responsibility of the Indian Department, yet it was slow to respond to appeals for medicine, dental care, treatment of tonsillitis, eyeglasses and cases for them. Shanahan documents this dereliction of duty, to the detriment of the children.

Shanahan states that there is evidence of sexual abuse perpetrated by senior students against junior students, principally in the dormitory at night. Offenders were punished. He offers no evidence for this gratuitous assertion, "There is every likelihood that some sexual abuse of students by staff may have taken place at Spanish over the years ..." He concludes this because it happened elsewhere. This is poor logic and detracts from the book.

Due to the stingy support from the Indian Department, an adjoining farm provided milk, butter, beef, pork, chicken, eggs, potatoes and other vegetables. The school could not have survived without the farm, ably managed by the Jesuit Brothers. Each pupil received two pairs of homemade shoes. The boys spent several hours per day working. Of this, an Agent of the Indian Department wrote, "... I think it commendable that they never keep the children at any one thing too long until they get weary of it (p. 70)."

Shanahan reports on the food served to the children, "As with so many who lived in rural areas of Ontario in those years ('30s), it may well be that the students of Spanish were better off nutritionally than many urban children who had not the advantage of fresh meat, dairy products and vegetables on a regular basis." An Indian Department report in December 1930 stated that the children "were receiving good food in ample quantity."

Fr. Raymond Oliver established the high school program in 1946. Spanish was the first Residential School to do so. Students were relieved of the daily work periods. They followed the Ontario high school curriculum. The students put on plays which drew audiences from the local townspeople. In addition to studies and work, there was time for sports, especially hockey, field days and picnics.

In January 1931 native languages were forbidden in the school except on Sundays, Thursdays and holidays. Indian languages were still used to teach catechism. Hymns and prayers were still taught in Ojibway, Cree and Iroquois (p. 167).

Did the school produce leaders? After listing the numbers of graduates, girls and boys, who went on to professions, Shanahan writes, "Overall, the graduates of Spanish did very well for themselves (p. 200)."

In the conclusion, Shanahan writes, "For decades the bureaucrats of Ottawa and North Bay ignored their treaty and legal obligations to these children. They starved the school of funds, and so helped deprive the children of food, warm clothing;" and, "The Indian Department was the silent partner at Spanish, leaving it to the Jesuits and Sisters to take the blame for any shortage felt by the children (p. 259)."

This book presents the difficulties, dreams and results of the school at Spanish. It elicits admiration for the generous, dedicated men and women who laboured to prepare the Indian children for life in the world they inherited. Unfortunately, the binding of the book does not match the high standard of Shanahan's message.

REVIEWED BY FATHER FRANCIS X. JOHNSON, S.J.

Fr. F.X. Johnson is a semi-retired Jesuit, who has ministered to native people in Ontario and British Columbia.