Missionary Work Among the Ojebway Indians (ePub)

Edward Francis Wilson (1844-1915) was an English missionary and linguist who significantly contributed to the study and support of the Ojebway (Ojibwa or Chippewa) people in Canada. Born on December 7, 1844, in Islington, London, he pursued his clerical education at St John's College, Huron, now part of the University of Western Ontario. His dedication to indigenous peoples, especially the Ojebway, led him to found the Shingwauk Home, a residential school aimed at educating indigenous children-a controversial legacy within the broader history of such institutions in Canada. Wilson's literary output includes his book, 'Missionary Work Among the Ojebway Indians' (1886), an account of his religious and educational endeavors. The work serves as a primary historical source, offering insight into the interactions between Christian missionaries and Indigenous communities in the 19th century. His approach combines zealous evangelical efforts with a passion for language and culture, making significant strides in documenting the Ojebway language and providing linguistic tools for further study and engagement. Wilson's scholarship is frequently examined in the context of colonial historical narratives, missionary literature, and the impact of evangelical missions on the fabric of Indigenous societies in Canada.