The University of Manitoba campuses are located on original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Ojibwe-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. More
Call Number: Mss 22 (A.81-44)
Title: Oblates of Western Canada fonds.
Dates: 1844-1948.
Extent: 1.6 m of textual records.
Administrative history: The Oblates of Western Canada have been in existence since 1844 in response to a request from Bishop Provencher, Vicar Apostolic of the Hudson's Bay and James Bay. The Oblates are congregations within the Roman Catholic Church serving as religious communities. The congregation of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate was founded in Aix-en-Provence, France in 1815 and arrived in Canada in 1841. Since then the Oblates spread across Western Canada establishing missions in the provinces of Saskatchewan and Alberta. Their primary goal was to evangelize and introduce Christianity to Aboriginal Peoples. During the settlement period of Western Canada, the work of the Oblates expanded to include the establishment of schools, colleges, hospitals, and other social institutions.
Custodial history: The fonds was acquired from L'Archives Oblates by University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections in 1981.
Scope and content: The fonds consists of photocopies of rare manuscripts, dictionaries, grammars, vocabularies, and other studies dealing with several North American Aboriginal languages, including the following: Algonquin, Cree, Chipewyan, Saulteaux, Ojibwa, Assiniboine, Dakota, Siksika, and Blackfoot. Also included in the fonds are materials on Catherine Tegakouita (1656-1680) and on the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. The eleven rare books listed in the register have been catalogued independently.
Restrictions: There are no restrictions on this material.
Finding aid: A printed finding aid is available in the Archives reading room and an on-line finding aid is available at the link below: