Indian Residential Schools

The History Pre-residential Schools Early 19th century – Mission Schools Goals: Teach native people to read English so they could read the bible Convert natives to Christianity Catholic, Anglican, United and Presbyterian Churches involved Indian Act – government’s responsibility to educate native children – Treaty Rights

Churches’ and Governmental Assumptions Aboriginal culture were unable to adapt to modern Canadian society Without intervention, native people would be left behind Children were easier to mould than adults Children must be removed from family/cultural influence Residential schools far from homes were the answer

Governance 1890 -1950’s – Parents had no choice but to send children to a residential school. Many parents wanted this schooling as they thought it best for their children’s future. All Aboriginal people – wards of the state. “Indian Agents” (white men) – employed by Dept. of Indian Affairs recruited students and ensured native students went to school.

Where did they go? To Residential Schools

Gordon Anglican Residential School

Curriculum Children aged 5 – 16 to attend School day: Half time classroom study Half time learning a trade Girls – sewing, cooking and domestic skills Boys – blacksmithing, carpentry, and auto mechanics Added duties: milk cows, clean dorms, chop wood (provide labour to run schools cheaper)

Assimilation Plan Goal: To prepare Native children for white society Began consideration in 1928 Geared to end the “Indian Problem” Guesstimated time for success was two generations Church run Government funded

Results of Residential Schools Children were removed from their homes Forced assimilation of white societal cultures, values, religion and languages Some children subjected to physical, emotional and sexual abuse Devastation of families and cultures

Aboriginal Reaction Decades later, Aboriginal people begin to share their stories Accuse government of systematic racism Demand governmental acknowledgement Want compensation for lost childhoods and abuse Abuse also affects the next generation

A Move towards Healing 1990 – Phil Fontaine, Grand Chief of Manitoba Chiefs, first leader to tell the story of his abuse at a residential School Calls for recognition of the abuse, compensation and an apology for racism 1991 – Lawsuits are launched, groups are formed 1996 – Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples recommends public inquiry

1997 – Phil Fontaine negotiates out of court settlement with federal government 1998 – Statement of Reconciliation -Settlement of $350 Million Healing Fund –Gov’t admits wrongdoing and apologizes 2001 – Dept. of Indian Residential Schools

Resolution Canada formed 2003 – Alternative Dispute Resolutions (ADR) process formed 2004 – U of A Law School and Assembly of First Nations (AFN) find ADR process flawed 2008 – Apology from Stephen Harper

Mission Statement Assembly of First Nations To address the expedient resolution of the residential schools claims filed in court by the survivors with the emphasis on the elderly and sick and to ensure an effective process is identified and carried out for healing strategies in relation to the loss of languages and culture of First Nation people and their communities. http://www.afn.ca/residentialschools/index.html

Lump sum – all survivors $10,000 $3,000 for every year attended Report on Canada’s Dispute Resolution Plan to Compensate for Abuses in Indian Residential Schools Lump sum – all survivors $10,000 $3,000 for every year attended Early payment for elderly Truth Commission Healing Fund Commemoration Fund Individual settlement of abuse claims

Summary of School Statistics An estimated 80,000 people alive today attended Indian Residential Schools Over 150,000 children attended Indian Residential Schools

Timeline: How it Happened. Assembly of First Nations - http://www. afn 1857 – Gradual Assimilation Act passed to assimilate Indians. 1870 – 1910 – Period of assimilation by government and missionaries to assimilate Aboriginal children into the lower fringes of mainstream society. 1920 – Compulsory attendance for all children ages 7 – 15. Children forcibly taken from families by priests, Indian agents and police officers.

1931 – 80 residential schools in Canada. 1948 – 72 residential schools with 9,368. 1979 – 12 residential schools with 1,899 students. 1980s – Students disclose forms of abuse.

1996 – Last residential school in Canada (Gordon Reserve in SK) closes 1998 Assembly of First Nations (AFN) establishes the Indian Residential Schools Resolution Unit 2009 – Less than half of the settlements completed

Discussion Questions Why is this a historically significant event? Who did it affect? How many people did it affect? What view did the church take? What was the result? Was an apology necessary?

File Hills Residential School SK-7 File Hills Indian Residential School (File Hills Colony School) (MD) Okanese Reserve; opened 1889; closed 1949 A Letter of Remembering - Home

Inquiry Questions What effects did the loss of languages and culture of First Nation people and their communities have as a result of living in Indian Residential Schools? What is being done to facilitate healing for former residents? What did we learn from this?