Aboriginals & Residential Schooling

For Aboriginals, the 20’s were not the prosperous time that they were for many other Canadians

1920- residential schooling became mandatory

1925- many cultural ceremonies such as Pow-wow’s and Sun Dance’s were banned

Aboriginals in the 1920’s & 30’s

I927- Indian act forbade First Nations people from forming political organizations to represent their interests

By the 1930’s there were 74 residential schools nationwide

Aboriginals in the 1920’s & 30’s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_V4d7sXoqU

“A New Future”

1892 the department of Indian affairs established the residential schooling system in collaboration with the Roman Catholic church

A result of Euro-Canadians seeking greater control

Became boarding schools under Nicolas Davin’s claim that “the influence of the wigwam was stronger than that of school”

History

Forced to conform with European traditionsTaught basic skills such as reading, writing, and mathBoys and girls were separated upon means of

different instructionSiblings were intentionally separated in efforts

to weaken family ties

Life in a Residential School

Students also worked as unpaid labourers as they were responsible for cleaning the school, cooking meals, and doing repairs

Punctuality, order, cleanliness, and strict obedience was enforced

Restricted from speaking their native language

Limited positive reinforcement

Life in a Residential School

Harsh punishments were used as means of control

Starvation, confinement, strapping, and humiliation were common forms of punishment

Many reported cases of sexual and physical abuse

Abuse in Residential Schools

Living conditions were poor Inadequately dressed, malnourished, and

overworkedSchools were often overcrowded

Poor academic instructionMore often than not, teachers were under qualified

Abuse in Residential Schools

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CReISnQDbBE

Abuse in Residential Schools

Impact of Residential Schools

DeathIllnessLonelinessHungerDepressionSuicide

Disconnection from family and culture

Loss of valuesIdentity crisisLoss of self worthPovertySuicide

Immediate Effects

Lasting Effects

Residential schools were an extremely traumatic experience for children that attended

When children returned home, familial relationships were distant as contact was prohibited during the school yearChildren could no longer speak their native tongue,

and their family could not speak EnglishNo longer practiced their beliefs or customsNow viewed native communities as backwards

Has been called cultural genocide

Impact of Residential Schools

The last residential school was officially closed in 1996Failed because of:

Underfunding Inadequate management Disregard for health/well being of the students

Many survivors began to file lawsuits on accounts of sexual and physical abuseAboriginal leaders wanted compensation,

acknowledgment, and apology on Canada’s behalf

The End of Residential Schooling

2008- Stephen Harper officially apologized to Aboriginal Canadians for “failing them so profoundly”

A truth and reconciliation commission was created in efforts to begin the healing process

Many events began to be held locally featuring survivors, relatives, mayors, police, and social workers to discuss reconciliation

Acknowledgment & Apology

Healing will occur when it is felt that apologies have been sincerely made

For many former students it may still be too soon to talk

Over 250,000 statements have been taken from survivors as well as 100 from former employees

Many survivors claim that there is no healing

Healing

Genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group such as:

a) Killing members of the group;b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to

members of the group;c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions

of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;

d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;

e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group

Should Residential Schooling be Considered Genocide?

If you were part of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission,

what would you suggest in order to bring about healing?

Does Residential Schooling have any responsibility towards the current social and

economic status of Aboriginal Canadians?