In 2006 the Shingwauk Education Trust established Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig to act as its educational arm, dedicated to providing Anishinaabe centered post-secondary education. In 2006, Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig and Algoma University signed a covenant that promised to assist each other in their journey towards independence. This was a major contributing factor to Algoma University's independence as the partnership was held in high regard. The name Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig when fully vocalized in Anishinaabemowin is Zhingwaak Gikinoo'amaagegamig, meaning "Shingwauk's Place of learning & knowledge". The creation of a space for Anishinaabe learning was first envisioned by Chief Shingwauk in 1850 and is often referred to as a 'Teaching Wigwam'. When Chief Shingwauk died in 1854, the fulfillment of his vision fell on his sons, Augustin Shingwauk and Bugujjewenene, and the Anglican Church. In 1873, the "Teaching Wigwam Lodge" became a reality with a school being constructed in the Garden River community. However, because of the Anglican Church and the assimilation policies of the Government of Canada, the operations and purpose of this iteration of the "Teaching Wigwam Lodge" were not true to Chief Shingwauk's vision. Rather, the School became part of the Canadian residential school system instead of its initial purposes originally advocated by Shingwaukonse. Today, the work of Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig sits on the lands once used by the Shingwauk Indian Residential School and actively works to returns to the original vision of Chief Shingwauk and emphasizes culture-based, Anishinaabe center learning.
Programming
In September 2008 Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig began offering courses in Anishinaabe studies. In September 2012 the institution became accredited by the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium. On November 8, 2018 Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig and Algoma University reaffirmed their relationships by signing an addendum to the 2006 covenant. Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig is recognized as one of the nine Indigenous Institutes in Ontario and currently partners with Algoma University to provide undergraduate degree programs in Anishinaabemowin and Anishinaabe studies. Formalized in 2018, the Anishinaabe Studies program is the first of its kind in Canada. In 2016 Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig was granted federal infrastructure funding for the establishment of an Anishinabek Discovery Centre. The construction of this facility will drastically change the programming and capacity of Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig to provide culture based learning opportunities. In 2018 the Assembly of First Nations unanimously passed a resolution for the National Chiefs Library to be housed at the Anishinabek Discovery Centre.
Faculty and Alumni
Well-known alumni and past faculty members include:
Partners
The new university was initiated by the Shingwauk Education trust and supported by a number of partnerships including :
