1. Indian Residential Schools

2. 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

3. 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

4. Governance
’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.

5. Where did they go?
To Residential Schools

6. Gordon Anglican Residential School

7. 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)

10. 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

11. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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.

18. 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

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

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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

23. 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?

24. 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

25. 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?