Some, like chief Shingwaukonce of the Garden River Ojibwas, were clearly concerned how to forge and maintain a relationship with new forms of authority, such as the Christian church and the state, that were beginning to make their presence felt in their territory by 1830.

    Some Native leaders, such as Chief Shawahnahness of St. Clair River, wanted the schooling but not the religion. In 1833 this chief told Rev. Peter Jones that his people 'had already agreed amongst themselves never to abandon the religion of their fore-fathers, but always walk in their footsteps, and follow them to the world of spirits in the west, but added we agree to send out children to school that they may learn to read, put words on paper, and count, so that the white traders might not cheat them,' Considering the few alternatives Natives in central British North America had at this time of immigration and drastic change, such a desire for adjustment and accommodation was not surprising. They saw education, though not necessarily residential schooling, as part of that strategy of adjustment.

The mission at Garden River, set up in response to Chief Shing-waukonce's request to the governor in 1832, led to the creation of Shingwauk Home.