Residential Schools The Beginning

Terms Assimilation: The adaptation to the cultural traits of the dominant culture. Usually occurring through colonization, where the colonized or minority group’s beliefs become the same as the dominant group’s.

Timeline 1600s-1850s: Missionaries set up day schools for First Nations and Labrador Inuit children. 1871-1899: Education becomes a priority in the numbered treaties The government becomes responsible for First Nations education The government funds existing missionary schools

1879: The Davin Report supports establishing residential schools to increase assimilation 1880s-1970s: Residential schools grow, reaching a peak in the 1930s 1951: The government changes the Indian Act 1960s: Government begins to close residential schools

1969: Government issues the White Paper 1970: The Indian Chiefs of Alberta issue the Red Paper 1970: Protest at Blue Quills residential school results in first Nation-run school

1973-present: First Nations-run schools grow in Canada 1996: Last government-funded residential school closed 1990s: First Nations and Inuit people take action against abuse suffered in residential schools 1996: Royal Commission of Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP) supports First Nations rights

2000: 7000 cases of abuse in residential schools are brought to court 2008: Public apology from Stephen Harper