LETTER: RHW challenges historical inaccuracies in residential school narrative – SooToday.com
December 1st 2025
Indigenous leaders are demanding greater respect and accuracy in how their histories are told following a contentious article that they say distorts key facts
SooToday received the following letter in response to a recent column from Bill Steer.
Dear editor,
Re: “From tour to truth: a visit to Shingwauk Hall changes everything,” by contributor Bill Steer
Bill Steer’s recent column offers a thoughtful description of the Shingwauk Residential School (SRS) site and its role in telling the difficult and painful history of residential schools in Canada. As he notes, sharing this history in a respectful, accurate, and healing way is a profound responsibility. For far too long, however, Indigenous histories, particularly Anishinaabe histories, have been interpreted and taught primarily through a Western, colonial worldview. A more accurate understanding of SRS requires engagement with multiple perspectives, including Anishinaabe worldviews.
