Residential Schools in Canada Canada in the 1950’s

Considered by some scholars as a cultural genocide Compensation for physical and sexual abuse sought Tool of control, exploitation, and destruction Attempt to assimilate Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian culture Funded by Can. G’ment, admin’d by Christian churches Based on paternalistic sentiment (economically and religiously)

Education system Indigenous Education (I.E) “experiential, informal learning that was integrated with life” Preparation for life Looking, listening, learning Western Education = preparation for labor force Schooling was a mix of practial skills and academic work “practical skills” essentially unpaid labor

Academic progress limited Seen as a necessary evil by many aboriginal parents Moral justification – can’t survive in society without education Some saw it as a moral crusade

Impact Over impact: destructive Unbearable for Indigenous students An education system training students for neither world Ultimate purpose: Destroy Indigenous culture Transform its children into members of the industrial workforce

Result Indigenous parents didn’t want to send their children Became mandatory in 1894 Inadequate facilities Poor health of the students Paternalistic system lasted until 1945

Non-residential schooling was allowed Integration and assimilation continued 1967, Hawthorn report: “helping children overcome their “Indianness” Last federally operated residential school closed in 1996 (Gordon Residential School, SK) Last BC residential school closed in 1984