The report says:—‘The importance of denominational schools at the outset must be obvious.... Where, however, the poor Indian has been brought face to face with polemics and settlements are divided, or think they are divided, on metaphysical niceties, the school should be, as at the White Earth Agency, Minnesota, undenominational.’ It further advises ‘that, as bands become more amenable to the restraints of civilization, education should be made compulsory.’ Also that ‘the character of the teacher, morally and intellectually, is a matter of vital importance; if he is morally weak, whatever his intellectual qualifications may be, he is worse than no teacher at all; if he is poorly instructed or feeble in brain, he only acts every day an elaborate farce.’ The report also advises competent inspection and that special advantages be given to boys and girls showing special aptitudes, and finally that, ‘the salary of a teacher must be such as will induce good men to offer themselves’ ... ‘in the future when the manual labour boarding schools are established institutions, these teachers, who manage these schools in a manner toward self-support, should have a percentage in the reduction in the cost of management.’

The report formed the basis, apparently, of the action taken subsequently in 1883, when a grant of $44,000 was made by parliament to establish three industrial schools.

In the annual report of 1881, Commissioner Dewdney states that he hopes to have selections made of localities for the three proposed industrial schools.

On July 19, 1883, an order in council was passed adopting the recommendation of a report of the Superintendent General of Indian Affairs by the Deputy, Mr. Vankoughnet, in which it was ordered:—

The maintenance of the industrial schools from the period of their establishment in 1884 was assumed wholly by the department; while on October 22, 1892, an order in council was passed, intended to regulate the matter of their expenses. This document, which since then has governed generally the management of the industrial schools, is so important that it is inserted here:—

The following is a copy of the order in council of October 22, 1892, providing for the carrying on of industrial schools in Manitoba and the Northwest Territories:—

‘On a report dated 17th October, 1892, from the Superintendent General of Indian Affairs stating that it is advisable to make a change in the manner of carrying on those industrial schools in the Northwest that are wholly supported by the government. The cost of those institutions is larger, it is thought, than that for which they might be conducted, and with a view to more economical management it is advisable and necessary to adopt some method which would relieve the pressure of the present expenditure and at the same time keep up the schools to an equal standard of efficiency and usefulness.’

‘The minister considers that when the whole cost of an institution is directly borne by the government the same economy by those in immediate charge is not used as would be employed under other conditions. Demands, under the present system, are frequently made for articles and supplies, whereas if the amount to be expended were to take the form more of an annual per capita grant, more effort in the way of economizing would be made.’

‘The minister states that the actual cost to the government, as shown under the head of industrial schools, does not represent the total expenditure which the present system entails, as there is a small expense in the purchasing and inspection of supplies to be added.’

‘The accounts for the past year (1890–91) show that the per capita cost of each child at the industrial schools under consideration was:—

Qu’Appelle $134 67
Battleford 175 45
High River 185 55

‘The rate per capita, it is thought, is higher than it would be if a forced system of economy were exercised, and that the best way to effect the desired decrease would be to place the schools under a per capita grant system similar to that now in operation at Elkhorn and St. Paul’s under Church of England authorities, St. Boniface and Kootenay under Roman Catholic Church authorities. The per capita system under which these schools are operated by religious bodies has been found to work satisfactorily.’

‘The minister therefore recommends that the following be applied to the industrial schools in operation in the Northwest Territories, and to such other similar institutions as may hereafter be established, as soon as, in the opinion of the Indian Department, said institutions are in proper running order, at rates to be fixed upon as being fair and just, viz.:

‘The committee submit the above for Your Excellency’s approval.’

Qu’Appelle$134 67
Battleford175 45
High River185 55