Canada and the Residential Schools Losing A Culture Canada and the Residential Schools

“ I want to get rid of the Indian problem “ I want to get rid of the Indian problem. Our objective is to continue until there is not a single Indian in Canada that has not been absorbed into the body politic and there is no Indian question. Education is in the forefront of their requirements now” - Duncan Scott, Deputy Superintendent of Indian Affairs (1913-1932)

"You will not give up your idle, roving habits to enable your children to receive instruction. It has therefore been determined that your children shall be sent to schools where they will forget their Indian habits and be instructed in all the necessary arts of civilized life and become one with your white brethren." P.G. Anderson , Indian Superintendent,, 1846

Indian Act In 1884 it was mandatory for all status Indians to attend Indian schools until they were 16 Residential schools were government-funded, church-run programs Students were forced to live at the schools and were often forcibly removed from their homes What impression does this report present to Canadians? Parents who refused to participate could be fined or placed in jail By 1969, all responsibility for the residential schools was placed in the government’s hands What changed when the government took complete control?

Social Impact In many cases students did not have contact with their homes families for up to 10 months First Nation and Inuktitut languages were forbidden Siblings were usually placed on different floors to prevent contact Native games were also forbidden Read the quote on pg. 184 of your text Copy the chart at the top of on pg. 185 of your text Read pg. 186 and answer questions 1 and 3

A New Truth Comes to Light By the 1980’s a number of former residents were coming forward with claims of abuse in the Residential School system In 1990, Phil Fontaine, Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, publicly admits to being abused Initially, the church organizations that ran the schools for the government were the focus of the blame

Canada Responds In 1996 the last residential school closed In 1998 the Federal government formally apologized to First Nation’s people In 1999 3620 former students filed claims against the government and the churches responsible for the program In 2003 the Anglican and Presbyterian churches sign agreements with the government to compensate former students In 2005 the government finalized the agreement to compensate students of Residential schools In 2007 the first cheques were sent out to compensate victims of the Residential school program

Australia's Sorry Days In 1998 Australia instituted National Sorry Day to apologize to aboriginal peoples for the forcible removal of children from their homes In 2004 the National Sorry Day was changed to the National Day of Healing to encourage reconciliation between Australians and Aboriginal people At the closing ceremonies of the 2000 Olympic games in Australia, the band Midnight Oil sang their song “Beds are Burning” wearing black clothing with the word “Sorry” printed on it “Beds are Burning” talks about the need to compensate Aboriginals for their historical treatment

“According to one study, the lowest rates of teen suicide are found in communities that have made some gains in self-government, land claims, and improved education services” - Cultural Continuity as a Hedge Against Suicide in Canada’s First Nations”