New memorial display reflects on Oxford County’s connection to the legacy of residential schools
Oxford County Archives shares “The Long Road Back: Bringing Percy Home”
As Canada prepares to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, the Oxford County Archives is honoured to share the story of Percy Onabigon through a moving new memorial display at the Oxford County Administration Building.
Percy’s story reflects a painful part of Canada’s history. Born in 1938, a member of Long Lake #58 First Nation in northern Ontario, Percy was removed from his family at the age of eight and sent to St. Joseph’s Residential School in Thunder Bay. Living with epilepsy and partial paralysis, he was soon transferred to a series of hospitals and institutions far from his home community. Percy spent nearly two decades without family contact before being admitted to the Oxford Regional Centre in Woodstock, where he passed away from tuberculosis in 1966 at the age of 27.
Buried in a small, marked grave at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Woodstock, more than 1,200 kilometres from his home, Percy’s family struggled for decades to learn of his resting place. They then spent many more years advocating for his remains to be repatriated. With the support of family members, Indigenous partners, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), and staff and students from Western University, Percy’s remains will soon return to Long Lake #58 First Nation and be laid to rest in his community cemetery beside his sisters.
The Archives display, titled “The Long Road Back: Bringing Percy Home,” highlights not only Percy’s life and the determination of his family, but also the broader history of residential schools, the importance of truth-telling in the face of denialism, and the central role of “home” in the ongoing journey of reconciliation.
The display, which was viewed by County Council before yesterday’s Council meeting, is now open for public viewing in the main lobby of the Oxford County Administration Building. It will remain in place until October 6, concluding with a closing ceremony that will include Percy’s family, members of the First Nations community, Warden Marcus Ryan, and other dignitaries.
Comment
Marcus Ryan, Warden, Oxford County
“I think it’s very easy in Oxford to think that First Nations issues and the calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Report are not particularly relevant in Oxford because there was never a residential school here. Percy Onabigon’s story shows that the history of residential schools and institutionalization is not distant. It happened here, in our own communities. This display honours Percy’s life while also challenging us to confront difficult truths. Without understanding those truths, we cannot move on to meaningful reconciliation. Oxford County residents can be proud of the constructive role we have played in Percy’s story.”
Claire Onabigon, Percy’s niece
“It has been a long road home, for sure, for Percy. We met with the chief coroner, forensic pathologist and forensic anthropologist this week, and can now make final arrangements. This [display] means so much to us and is very much appreciated. Thank you, Oxford County, for taking these steps toward reconciliation. Chi milgwetch.”
Liz Dommasch, Archivist, Oxford County
“As archivists, our role is not only to preserve records, but to share the stories they hold and to ensure they are not forgotten. Percy Onabigon’s story is one of loss, separation, and resilience, and it connects Oxford County to the larger history of residential schools in Canada. By bringing together historical records, research, and the voices of Percy’s family, this display seeks to honour his life and remind us all of the importance of truth-telling on the path to reconciliation."