Moravian Missionaries’ Legacy Sparks Debate Over School Names in Nunatsiavut

The Moravian Church’s historical presence in Nunatsiavut has left a complex legacy, as seen in the ongoing debate over school names in the region. The J.C. Erhardt Memorial School in Makkovik, named after a Moravian missionary who disappeared in 1752, is one of several institutions bearing the names of missionaries who established missions in the area. Schools in Nain and Hopedale are also named after Moravian figures Jens Haven and Amos Comenius, while the B.L. Morrison School in Postville is named after a Pentecostal pastor.

Caitlyn Baikie, a graduate of the Jens Haven School, has called for the names of these schools to be changed. She and Jessica Winters, also a graduate of the J.C. Erhardt Memorial School, wrote a letter to the Nunatsiavut government requesting that the three schools, along with the B.L. Morrison School, be renamed. Baikie, who was baptized Moravian, acknowledges the church’s historical significance but emphasizes the need to reflect contemporary values in the names of educational institutions.

Baikie’s grandmother was a devout Moravian who was deeply involved in the church, yet she and her family were relocated from Hebron to Nain in the 1950s due to the mission’s influence. This displacement, along with the broader impact of the Moravian Church’s role in residential schooling, has contributed to intergenerational trauma and cultural loss among Inuit communities.

The Moravian Church’s involvement in residential schooling has left a lasting impact, with schools in Nain and Makkovik being part of this system. The legacy of these institutions continues to affect Indigenous Labradorians, as they grapple with the consequences of forced assimilation and the erosion of cultural identity.

Baikie and Winters argue that the names of these schools do not instill a sense of pride for young Inuit today. They believe that renaming the schools would better reflect the students and honor the communities they serve. Their letter highlights the importance of acknowledging the past while looking toward a future that respects and celebrates Inuit heritage.

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