1. Indian Residential Schools Part 1 - The Report Presented by Gail Smith

2. The History Pre-residential Schools Early 19 th century – Mission Schools Early 19 th century – Mission Schools Goals: Goals: Teach native people to read English so they could read the bible Teach native people to read English so they could read the bible Convert natives to Christianity Convert natives to Christianity Catholic, Anglican, United and Presbyterian Churches involved Catholic, Anglican, United and Presbyterian Churches involved Indian Act – government’s responsibility to educate native children – Treaty Rights 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 Aboriginal culture were unable to adapt to modern Canadian society Without intervention, native people would be left behind Without intervention, native people would be left behind Children were easier to mould than adults Children were easier to mould than adults Children must be removed from family/cultural influence Children must be removed from family/cultural influence Residential schools far from homes were the answer Residential schools far from homes were the answer

4. Governance 1890 -1950’s – Parents had no choice but to send children to a residential school. 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. Many parents wanted this schooling as they thought it best for their children’s future. All Aboriginal people – wards of the state. 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. “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 To Residential Schools Here are a few of them. Here are a few of them.

6. Gordon Anglican Residential School

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

10. Canadian Indian Residential Schools Statistics Total Indian Residential Schools – 135 Total Indian Residential Schools – 135 None in NB, PE or NL None in NB, PE or NL AB – 29BC – 28SK – 20 AB – 29BC – 28SK – 20 ON – 18MB – 17NT – 8 ON – 18MB – 17NT – 8 QC – 6 YT – 6NU – 2 NS – 1 QC – 6 YT – 6NU – 2 NS – 1 Department of Indian Affairs funded all residential schools. Department of Indian Affairs funded all residential schools.

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

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

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

15. 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 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 Calls for recognition of the abuse, compensation and an apology for racism 1991 – Lawsuits are launched, groups are formed 1991 – Lawsuits are launched, groups are formed 1996 – Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples recommends public inquiry 1996 – Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples recommends public inquiry

16. 1997 – Phil Fontaine negotiates out of court settlement with federal government 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 1998 – Statement of Reconciliation - Settlement of $350 Million Healing Fund – Gov’t admits wrongdoing and apologizes 2001 – Dept. of Indian Residential Schools 2001 – Dept. of Indian Residential Schools

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

18. 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

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

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

21. Timeline: How it Happened? Assembly of First Nations - http://www.afn.ca/residentialschools/history.html 1857 – Gradual Assimilation Act passed to assimilate Indians. 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. 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. 1920 – Compulsory attendance for all children ages 7 – 15. Children forcibly taken from families by priests, Indian agents and police officers.

22. 1931 – 80 residential schools in Canada. 1931 – 80 residential schools in Canada. 1948 – 72 residential schools with 9,368. 1948 – 72 residential schools with 9,368. 1979 – 12 residential schools with 1,899 students. 1979 – 12 residential schools with 1,899 students. 1980s – Students disclose forms of abuse. 1980s – Students disclose forms of abuse.

23. 1996 – Last residential school in Canada (Gordon Reserve in SK) closes 1996 – Last residential school in Canada (Gordon Reserve in SK) closes 1998 Assembly of First Nations (AFN) establishes the Indian Residential Schools Resolution Unit 1998 Assembly of First Nations (AFN) establishes the Indian Residential Schools Resolution Unit 2009 – Less than half of the settlements completed 2009 – Less than half of the settlements completed

24. Indian Residential Schools Resolution Unit includes: Independent Assessment Process – Independent Assessment Process – students who suffered serious abuses that caused serious psychological effects Truth and Reconciliation Commission Truth and Reconciliation Commission Commemoration initiative Commemoration initiative Aboriginal Healing Foundation - other health support programs. Aboriginal Healing Foundation - other health support programs.

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

26. File Hills Residential School SK-7 File Hills Indian 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

27. Resource Websites Assembly of First Nations - Assembly of First Nations - www.afn.ca/residentialschools/index.html www.afn.ca/article.asp?id=2586 Turtle Island - turtleisland.org/resources Turtle Island - turtleisland.org/resources The Anglican Church - www2.anglican.ca/rs/history/schools/old-sun.htm The Anglican Church - www2.anglican.ca/rs/history/schools/old-sun.htm The United Church - www.united- church.ca/aboriginal/schools/faq/history The United Church - www.united- church.ca/aboriginal/schools/faq/historywww.united- church.ca/aboriginal/schools/faq/historywww.united- church.ca/aboriginal/schools/faq/history Where are the Children? www.wherearethechildren.ca/en/remembering2.html Where are the Children? www.wherearethechildren.ca/en/remembering2.html

28. 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 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 is being done to facilitate healing for former residents? What did we learn from this? What did we learn from this?