Residential Schools

Background Aboriginal people had a highly developed system of education before the arrival of the Europeans. Aboriginal elders and parents passed on not only survival skills to their children, but their history, artistic ability, music, language, moral and religious values

The Power of Words: Assimilation – a process in which one cultural group is absorbed into another, typically dominant, culture. Paternalism – a way of managing people in which the desire to help, advise and protect may negate individual choice, freedoms and personal responsibility.

Eurocentrism – to consider the European world view as superior and to measure other cultures against it. Stereotype – an oversimplified image or perception of a person or group. It may be true of some members of a group but is applied to all members.

Locations

Why Residential Schools Became Established The paternalistic viewpoint: “…the future of the Indians, if it were not to be extinction…depended on their being brought more and more nearly to the status of the white population.” “…by education and encouragement, the Indians were to cease being interesting exotic relics and practice trying to hold their own in a society which could not be bent in their direction.”

The Eurocentric viewpoint: Aboriginal lifestyle was barbaric Aboriginal culture was useless and dying All human beings would eventually develop and change to be like the 'advanced' European civilization

Why Schooling on the Reserve Wouldn’t Work Needed to separate the children from the family Interrupts “cultural transmission”

Why did parents agree? Initially, parents believed that the schools would provide a benefit for their children Better opportunity for jobs in the new economy Would help their child to “fit in” to the new society

Compare these pictures

The Arrival Sent to school from age 6 to 15 years old Children were usually rounded up in August and transported by train, plane or bus Separated from their brothers, sisters and friends and herded together according to age level

The Experience Bad tasting, indigestible food Not allowed to speak their native language, thus unable to express their basic needs Loss of personal freedoms and individual control Painfully abusive and harsh discipline Mental, physical, and sexual abuse

Punishments For failing a test – no food for a day For not working hard enough - 4 hours of extra work (in school or garden) For disobedience - no food or water for a day, a beating, extra garden work For going off by yourself - several hours of kneeling alone on a rock floor where all can see.

Punishments Cont’d. For speaking native language – first offence: no supper second offence: no supper and beating third offence: considered disobedience and punished as such I lost my talk The talk you took away. When I was a little girl At Shubenacadie school. You snatched it away…

Returning Home Parents found that the children had changed Unable to communicate with parents as children lost the ability to speak their own language not interested in family chores often disrespectful by disobeying, talking back and arguing

The End of Residential Schools Parents began to keep their children home in larger and larger numbers as they realized that the “education” was really assimilation By 1950 the Canadian government began to realize the residential school policy was a failure Although many schools closed through the 1960s, the last Residential school did not close until 1996.

Impacts… The Ripple Effect Consider the Ripple Effect and create a list of short term and long term effects of the residential schools on individuals, families, communities, institutions and finally the country.

Impacts… The Ripple Effect Low self esteem High rates of suicide Alcohol and substance abuse Inability to parent Family violence such as child abuse Loss of cultural identity and traditions High unemployment

Government Apology “Today, we recognize that this policy of assimilation was wrong, has caused great harm, and has no place in our country.” Stephen Harper, June 11, 2008 an apology from the government of Canada in Parliament for residential schools and the damage they caused to aboriginal people. After watching the apology, what are your feelings?