Cross Lake

1912-1969
Operated by Roman Catholic Church

The administration of the Cross Lake Indian Residential School, located at Cross Lake, Manitoba, and what would eventually be known as the Jack River Hostel, located at Norway House, Manitoba, were intertwined throughout most of their histories. A Catholic day school was already operating at Cross Lake when missionaries opened a mission at Jack River in 1910. In 1912, Canada began funding the mission’s boarding school at Jack River. Discussions between Canada and the missionaries began about building a larger school at Jack River soon followed, but in the end the new boarding school was built at Cross Lake instead. By 1917, the new Indian Residential School at Cross Lake was opened. A new boarding facility at Jack River opened in the 1920s. The tuition for the students there was paid for by the children’s families, and the school was not funded by the government at this time.

In 1930 the Cross Lake Indian Residential School was destroyed by fire. Twelve students and one staff member perished. Following this devastating fire, the school operated at two locations, the Catholic Mission at Cross Lake, and the Catholic Mission at Jack River/Norway House, which was referred to as an annex, section, or branch of the school.

In 1940, the Cross Lake School was rebuilt. Efforts to quickly fill the school with pupils led to significant health issues and student deaths soon followed the reopening of the school. Some of the children who fell ill during this time were sent to the Norway House Indian Hospital and other Indian Hospitals and Sanatoria. Owing to strict government policy around limiting the cost of funerals, students who died at these facilities were more likely to be buried near them than to be returned home.

In 1960 the Jack River location was recognized as a distinct school. In 1969 the boarding facility at Jack River was closed, leaving only the associated day school there. In 1969 the Cross Lake location, now operating as a student residence, was closed and the Jack River school was placed under provincial jurisdiction.

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