Michael Cachagee Explained

Michael Cachagee
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Birth Name:Michael Cachagee
Birth Date:1940
Birth Place:Chapleau Cree First Nation, Ontario
Death Date:July 15, 2023
Nationality:Cree, Canadian
Alma Mater:Algoma University College
Organization:National Residential School Support Services, Ontario Indian Residential School Support Services
Known For:Residential School advocacy, Indigenous politics

Michael (Mike) Cachagee (1940 – July 15, 2023) was a prominent Indigenous rights activist, speaker, and community leader. He was a member of Chapleau Cree First Nation and was one of the founding members of the Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association. He was a well known residential school survivor and has been an advocate for residential school rights, healing, and reconciliation.[1] Mike died at the Sault Area Hospital on July 15, 2023.[2]

Education

Michael Cachagee attended three residential schools: St. John's Indian Residential School in Chapleau, Ontario, the Bishop Horden Indian Residential School in Moose Factory, and the Shingwauk Indian Residential School from 1952 to 1957. He entered the St. John's Indian Residential School at three and a half years of age and he was in the residential school system until the age of sixteen.[3]

He went on to graduate from Algoma University in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political science.[4] In 2011 Cachagee received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Algoma University.[5] In June 2017 he was recognized as an honorary member of Algoma University. This recognition was presented at the 2017 Algoma University convocation by the senate of AlgomaU and is in recognition of his ongoing and long term service to the university.[6]

He went on to work as a native student advisor at Algoma University College and later at Confederation College as the Dean of Native Studies.

Advocacy

Michael Cachagee was a well known advocate and speaker on relating to residential schools.[7] He was a founding member of the Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association,[8] the National Residential School Survivor Society, and Ontario Indian Residential School Support Services. He was also the chair of the Board of Directors of Weecheetowin Support Services.[9] All of these organizations have been dedicated to working with former residential school students and have played advocacy roles relating to residential schools.[10]

Cachagee was on the floor of the House of Commons of Canada when Prime Minister Stephen Harper delivered his 2008 apology to residential school survivors.[11] He was also involved throughout the Settlement Agreement process acting as health support throughout national events held by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.[12]

In 2012 through his work at the National Residential School Survivors Society Cachagee called for a review of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement and criticized the court process that was related to the agreement.[13]

Cachagee was vocally opposed to the destruction of Independent Assessment Process court documents that were created as part of the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement.[14] He argued for the preservation of these documents which documented the experience of over 38,000 Survivors and supported their historical and education value for future generations learning about residential schools.[15] [16]

Career

Cachagee has held numerous positions in First Nation government, council, and community organizations, including:

Notes and References

  1. News: Who will advocate on behalf of survivors?. Narine. Shari. 2010. Windspeaker. 1. 28. October 27, 2016.
  2. Web site: 2023-07-17 . CACHAGEE, Arnold Michael Frederick . 2023-07-18 . SooToday.com . en.
  3. Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association fonds. Algoma University. Shingwauk Reunion interviews. http://archives.algomau.ca/main/node/14604. 007. Mike. Cachagee. General Documentation series. Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association fonds. textual records. 1991. 026. http://archives.algomau.ca/main/node/20128. Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre. Sault Ste Marie, Ontario. 2010-004.
  4. News: Residential school survivor Michael Cachagee reflects on bid to strip children of mother tongue, culture. Baker. Patricia. September 16, 2016. Sault Star. October 27, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161028021844/http://www.saultstar.com/2016/09/16/residential-school-survivor-michael-cachagee-reflects-on-bid-to-strip-children-of-mother-tongue-culture. October 28, 2016. dead.
  5. News: Look who graduated today from Algoma U!. June 12, 2011. October 27, 2016.
  6. News: Algoma U Convocation honours biggest graduating class. SooToday.com. 2017-10-18. en.
  7. News: Residential school survivors’ healing hampered by bureaucracy. January 12, 2015. Wawatay News. October 27, 2016.
  8. Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association fonds. Algoma University. Mike Cachagee correspondence. http://archives.algomau.ca/main/node/16150. 2010-007-009-050. 009. General Documentation series. Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association fonds. textual records. 1992-2004. 050. http://archives.algomau.ca/main/node/20128. Shingwauk Residential Schools Centre. Sault Ste Marie, Ontario. 2010-007.
  9. Web site: Board Members Weecheetowin Support Services . 2023-07-18 . WSS Ontario . en.
  10. News: Residential school survivor says Canada’s generosity to new immigrants not extended to original inhabitants. Baker. Patricia. September 23, 2016. Sault Star. October 27, 2016.
  11. News: Canada apologizes. Fenlon. Brodie. June 11, 2008. The Globe and Mail. October 27, 2016.
  12. News: Education key to reversing impacts of residential schools, survivors say. Petz. Sarah. June 4, 2015. Sault Star. October 27, 2016.
  13. News: Residential schools pact needs review: coalition. Paul. Alexandra. February 3, 2012. Winnipeg Free Press. October 27, 2016.
  14. News: Evidence on abuse at residential schools can be destroyed, court rules. Gallant. Jacques. April 4, 2016. The Toronto Star. October 27, 2016.
  15. News: Survivors of residential schools push back against document destruction. Alamenciak. Tim. June 20, 2014. The Toronto Star. October 27, 2016.
  16. Web site: NAN Mourns Passing of Long-Serving Leader & Residential School Advocate Michael Cachagee . 2023-07-18 . Nishnawbe Aski Nation . en-US.
  17. Web site: Chapleau Cree Ratify Treaty Lands Settlement. Edwards. Bryce. Ritchie. Kaitlin. October 5, 2016. Olthuis Kleer Townshend. October 27, 2016.
  18. Web site: Alumni Awards. Algoma University. Algoma University. October 27, 2016.
  19. News: Board Members - Algoma University. Algoma University. 2017-10-18. en-US.
  20. Web site: Michael Cachagee Biography. 2006. National Indian Residential School Survivor Society. October 27, 2016.

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