Historic Sites of Manitoba: Portage la Prairie Indian Residential School / National Indigenous Residential School Museum of Canada (Crescent Road West, Portage la Prairie)

Link to:
Principals | Vice-Principals | Teachers | Photos & Coordinates | Sources

This two-storey brick and stone building in Portage la Prairie was occupied from 1916 to 1975 by the Portage la Prairie Indian Residential School. It is now used as a resource centre by the Long Plain First Nation. The main floor provides a home for the National Indigenous Residential School Museum of Canada.

In 2005, the building was designated as a Provincial Heritage Site and a plaque was erected by the Manitoba Heritage Council. A golden eagle monument on the grounds is dedicated to First Nations people who were forced to attend residential schools. The building became a nationally-designated historic site in September 2020.

Principals

Period	Matron
1902-1909	Rev. W. A. Hendry
1909-1911	Rev. J. L. Miller
1911-1934	Rev. W. A. Hendry
1935-1942	Joseph Jones (1881-1970)
1942-1944	John McNeill
1945-1946	Rev. A. C. Huston
1946-1949	Joseph Jones (1881-1970)
1949-1956	Rev. Lachlan McLean
1956-1957	?
1957-1958	William Charles “Bill” Warren (1917-1958)
1958-1970	Jack O. Harris
c1970	Charles Greaves

Teachers

School Year	Teachers
1959-1960	Rosa Johnson

Among the other teachers of the school was Margaret Creighton.

Matrons

Period	Matron
1886	Miss Sebastion
1887-1888	Miss Wight
1888-1891	Bessie Walker
1891-1901	Annie Fraser

Photos & Coordinates

Postcard view of Portage Indian Residental School (no date) Source: Gordon Goldsborough, 2012-0056 Former Portage la Prairie Indian Residential School building (September 2011) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Former Portage la Prairie Indian Residential School building (July 2020) Source: George Penner Golden eagle monument at the former Portage la Prairie Indian Residential School (July 2020) Source: George Penner Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.96230, W98.32255 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Brandon Indian Residential School (RM of Cornwallis)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Brandon Indian Residential School Cemetery (RM of Cornwallis)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Brandon Old Indian Residential School Cemetery (Brandon)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Birtle Indian Residential School (Birtle, Municipality of Prairie View)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Elkhorn Indian Residential School (Elkhorn, RM of Wallace-Woodworth)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: MacKay Indian Residential School (Opaskwayak Cree Nation)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Portage la Prairie Indian Residential School (Crescent Road West, Portage la Prairie)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Pine Creek Indian Residential School / Camperville Indian Residential School (Pine Creek First Nation)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Norway House Indian Residential School (Norway School)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Julia Clark School (611 Academy Road, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Residential School Totem Pole (Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Rupert’s Land Indian Industrial School / St. Paul’s Industrial School (Middlechurch, RM of West St. Paul)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Provincially Designated Historic Sites

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Manitoba Plaques for Persons, Events and Sites of National Historic Significance

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Portage Indian Boarding School (Ninth Street NE, Portage la Prairie)

Sources:

Portage la Prairie Indian Residential School (Rufus Prince Building), Manitoba Historic Resources Branch.

We thank Katherine Nichols, Diane Haglund, Nathan Kramer, Judy Gleich, and George Penner for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 2 May 2024

Historic Sites of Manitoba This is a collection of historic sites in Manitoba compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. The information is offered for historical interest only. SEARCH the collection Browse lists of: Museums/Archives | Buildings | Monuments | Cemeteries | Locations | Other Inclusion in this collection does not confer special status or protection. Official heritage designation may only come from municipal, provincial, or federal governments. Some sites are on private property and permission to visit must be secured from the owner. Site information is provided by the Manitoba Historical Society as a free public service only for non-commercial purposes. Send corrections and additions to this page to the MHS Webmaster at webmaster@mhs.mb.ca. Search Tips | Suggest an Historic Site | FAQ Help us keep history alive!