In the 1830s, officials urged native peoples in Upper Canada to abandon seasonal fishing and hunting migrations and settle permanently in agricultural communities. To this end, the government established a mission at Manitowaning under the auspices of the Anglican Church in 1838. A school, houses and workshops for teaching trades were constructed. The mission encouraged farming, but crops were meagre. Few aboriginal people chose to settle permanently at Manitowaning, and in 1864 the mission was moved to the Sheguiandah Reserve. This mission church, erected by native parishioners by 1849, is the oldest church in Manitoulin-Algoma.

Location

On the grounds of St. Paul's Anglican Church, Spragge Street, Manitowaning

Themes

• Buildings and structures
• First Nations
• Religion