Aboriginals & Residential Schooling

1. Aboriginals & Residential Schooling

2. Aboriginals in the 1920’s & 30’s • 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

3. 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

4. “A New Future” • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_V4d7sXoqU

5. History • 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 strongerthan that of school”

6. Life in a Residential School • Forced to conform with European traditions • Taught basic skills such as reading, writing, and math • Boys and girls were separated upon means of different instruction • Siblings were intentionally separated in efforts to weaken family ties

7. 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

8. Abuse in Residential Schools • 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

9. Abuse in Residential Schools • Living conditions were poor • Inadequately dressed, malnourished, and overworked • Schools were often overcrowded • Poor academic instruction • More often than not, teachers were under qualified

10. Abuse in Residential Schools • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CReISnQDbBE

11. Impact of Residential Schools • Death • Illness • Loneliness • Hunger • Depression • Suicide • Disconnection from family and culture • Loss of values • Identity crisis • Loss of self worth • Poverty • Suicide Immediate Effects Lasting Effects

12. Impact of Residential Schools • 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 year • Children could no longer speak their native tongue, and their family could not speak English • No longer practiced their beliefs or customs • Now viewed native communities as backwards • Has been called cultural genocide

13. The End of Residential Schooling • The last residential school was officially closed in 1996 • Failed 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 abuse • Aboriginal leaders wanted compensation, acknowledgment, and apology on Canada’s behalf

14. Acknowledgment & Apology • 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

15. Healing • 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

16. Should Residential Schooling be Considered Genocide? • 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

17. If you were part of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission, what would you suggest in order to bring about healing?

18. Does Residential Schooling have any responsibility towards the current social and economic status of Aboriginal Canadians?