Davin Report

After returning to power in 1878 the Conservative government employed Nicholas Flood Davin to examine the American Residential Schools system, as well as some Aboriginal schools in Canada to advise the government in the creation of a school system for the Northwest Territories. Davin visited with leaders from the Five Civilized Nations during a visit in Washington. He also visited the White Earth Agency in Minnesota. Using the example of these groups, he created a list of thirteen recommendations for the implementation of industrial boarding schools in the Northwest Territories. The recommendations were: 1. Wherever mission schools exist already, they should be used as industrial boarding schools through the establishment of a contract between the church group and the government. 2. No more than four industrial boarding schools should be established at first. 3. Industrial boarding schools should be established both in the North and the South of Saskatchewan. One should be established near Prince Albert in connection with the Episcopalian Church. 4. A school should be established at the Old Bow Fort in connection with the Methodist Church. 5. Qu'Appelle would be a suitable place for the establishment of a school, which could be associated with the Roman Catholic Church. 6. A school should be established at Riding Mountain with the Presbyterian Church. The importance of schools associated with religion denomination was judged to be obvious, as the first step of "civilizing" Indigenous people was to rid them of their faith. 7. A distinction should be made between parents who sent their children to school regularly, those who were ambivalent to them going, and those who refused to let them go. Those in the first group should be given a material reward, like increased food rations. 8. "Where practicable some inducement of a [moral?] nature should be held out to the child." 9. As bands come to accept education and civilization, school should become compulsory. 10. The moral and intellectual character of teachers is vitally important. Because the moral character of teachers is arguably more important than their intellect, missionaries are ideal candidates for this job because they have the enthusiasm of their religious convictions driving their morals. 11. In order to ensure the quality of the education being offered, schools should regularly be subject to inspections. 12. Special advantages and opportunities should be particularly promising students, who should be trained as teachers and clerks for the Department of Indian Affairs. 13. A teacher's salary should be enough to draw good men to the work. Teachers should be paid according to his qualifications.